Exporters and officials have termed the visit by the European Union Food and Veterinary Office in January an 'acid test' for the shrimp industry, saying it would determine the course of the second largest export earners.
"The future of the country's export to European Union nations largely depends on the EU FVO Mission's report card on aquaculture residue monitoring activities," said Rafiqul Islam, director general of department of fisheries.
The delegation will scrutinise the present situation in residues control in live animals and animal products and the control on veterinary medicinal products, measures seen as key requirements for export of shrimps to EU.
The team will also inspect implementation of public health and residues control in aquaculture products from root level to production level so that harmful health hazards or drugs could not pass into the shrimps meant for export, he added.
The EU is the largest importer of Bangladeshi shrimps, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the shipments made last year. The country exported $454 million worth of shrimps in the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Shrimp farming is a key employer in the country's poorest southwestern coastal region. According to the industry sources, the country's 130 shrimp processing plants and tens of thousands of farms, employ over one million people.
Shrimp Exports Face Key Test
BANGLADESH - A top EU team will visit fish farms and processing plants in Bangladesh in January to find out whether what the country prouces matches the quality required by European consumers.
