Frustrated by the rejection of shrimp consignments to the European Union (EU) following the detection of antibiotic residues, Indian exporters are demanding stricter testing at local aquaculture farms, reports Livemint. The UK destroyed a consignment from India last month after detecting residues of potentially harmful antibiotics used to treat the shrimp.
In a double blow for exporters, demand, meanwhile, is increasing for low-priced white shrimp, or vannamei, thats not farmed in India. That has brought down both demand for Indias tiger shrimp, and its price.
According to Livemint, shrimp exports accounted for 60% of Indians marine exports worth Rs7,570 crore in fiscal 2007-08. The EU had a share of around 38%.
Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) secretary-general Elias Sait says though the number of rejections of consignments to the EU is as low as 10 so far this calendar year, down from 45 in 2007, the continued use of antibiotics such as chloramphenicol or nitrofuran at aquaculture farms has aroused concern.
Tiger Prices Make Way for a New Shrimp
INDIA - A rise in demand for the white variety of shrimp that isn't farmed in India, has deflated prices of the countrys tiger shrimps.