EU may widen tests on Indian marine product export

The European Commission (EC), executive arm of the European Union (EU), is thinking of wider testing for Indian aquaculture products, to check if these meet their import standards.

Its directorate-general for health and food safety had conducted an audit in India (April 16-27) on control of residues and contaminants in live animals, animal products and veterinary medicines. The findings were discussed at two standing committee meetings of the Commission last month.

“The official summary of one of these meetings has now been published. It would appear members of this committee are recommending for testing of a wider range of antibiotic residues in aquaculture products from India. There was no mention of a departure from the current 50 per cent testing of import into the EU and, critically, no mention of a complete ban. Of course these three cannot be completely ruled out,” said Ivan Bartolo, regulatory affairs advisor at Seafish, which represents the British seafood industry. The findings (of the audit), read an EX report, were discussed with member states, which were advised to consider expanding their scope of testing of Indian aquaculture products, in particular for residues of antimicrobial substances (in addition to the already ongoing testing).

In 2016, the EU had strengthened its inspection norms for aquaculture products from India, after finding the presence of antibiotics in these. Earlier, the norm was testing samples from at least 10 per cent of the consignments; this was enhanced to 50 per cent in 2016.