In a move that could benefit Indian shrimp exporters, Japan has relaxed the maximum residue limit standards for ethoxyquin, an anti-oxidant used as preservative in shrimp feed.
Norms relaxed Japan has recently notified the residue limit for ethoxyquin at 0.2 ppm (parts per million) for shrimps imported from India against the earlier 0.01 ppm.
“The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, has officially notified the MRL for ethoxyquin at 0.2 ppm in crustaceans including farmed shrimp,” said Leena Nair, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority.
This has ended the 18-month-long MPEDA’s battle with the Japanese authorities.
In August 2012, the import inspection authorities of Japan had enforced the default level of 0.01 ppm for ethoxyquin in shrimps from India.
This had affected shrimp exports from India to Japan, forcing MPEDA to take up the issue with Japanese authorities citing the lack of scientific reasoning behind their action.
exports The relaxed residue limit should help revive Indian shrimp exports to Japan, one of the large markets for Indian seafood accounting for about eight per cent of total shipments.
“We should see a rebound in exports to Japan,” Nair said.
In April-November, 2013, India’s seafood exports to Japan were down 15 per cent in quantity, but were up 17.58 in dollar terms at $313.97 million against the corresponding last year’s $268.74 million.
Total seafood export from India during the April-November 2013 was up 32.4 per cent in dollar terms at $3.208 billion against $2.423 billion in the corresponding last year.
However in quantity, the shipments were down 2.28 per cent at 6 lakh tonnes against 6.13 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period a year ago.
Exports of frozen shrimp, which account for close to two-third of the country’s total seafood shipments in value terms, stood at $2.11 billion against $1.24 billion in the April-November period.