India’s shrimp exporters launched a global campaign with the backing of Indian Govt against the international lobby that is attempting to malign Indian products.
India has a 40% market share largely to the US market. The vested interests by the foreign lobby are to kill the rapidly growing Indian shrimp industry with an export value of Rs 43,000 crores.
A few US lawmakers have written to President Biden to initiate action against Indian shrimp imports after allegations that surfaced against a private Indian company engaging in exporting shrimp contaminated with antibiotics and forced labour practices. Activists and few of the US media also joined this crusade against Indian shrimp imports.
Indian exporters with the support of the commerce ministry convened a meeting of the stakeholders. The exporters challenged to open their facilities for inspection by any independent international agency seeking to investigate in verifying the allegations.
“All 548 Indian shrimp exporters are absolutely confident about meeting the stringent norms prescribed by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) at their processing facilities, and hence sought the government’s help to invite national and international agencies to conduct audits to end the falsehood spread by competitors,” the exporters said unanimously.
The exporters also implored the government officials to invite internationally recognised organizations to evaluate prevailing labour conditions in these shrimp processing units, he said. The meeting was attended by senior officials from ministries
of commerce and external affairs, regulatory bodies such as the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and exporters.
“A thorough audit could be done to reassure buyers, but there is no trigger to raise this matter at the G2G [government-to-government] level, “according to a senior government official
While all regulatory bodies have been conducting regular audits, they have been asked to remain extra vigilant, he said referring to MPEDA, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Export Inspection Council (EIC). India banned usage of antibiotics in aquaculture in 2002.
Andhra Pradesh is the biggest supplier of shrimp to the US and has been alerted as well. India is set to touch seafood exports worth ₹1 lakh crore in a couple of years.
India registered record seafood exports worth ₹63,969.14 crores in 2022-23, ($8.09 billion) with much of this coming from frozen shrimp (43,135.58 crore or $5.5 billion). The US being India’s biggest buyer contributes to $2.4 billion worth of shrimp.
India’s innovation and focus on value addition before exporting to the US, has alerted the competitors. The mudslinging on the rapidly growing Indian shrimp industry is intentional and this must be put to an end with appropriate investigation and remedial action by the governing bodies.
Blogger:
Dr. Sathish Prasad
Senior Scientist – Aquatic Animal Health
Growel Innovation Center,
RS NO.57, Chevuru Village, Sriharipuram Panchayat, Mudinepalli Mandal, Krishna District – Andhra Pradesh India – 521329
Email: [email protected]