“Blind” overuse of chemicals in the Chinese aquaculture sector is posing a threat to human health, according to Liu Xiao Yan, the deputy director of the Biological Pesticide Center at the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Speaking at the recent National People’s Congress, Liu pointed to the overuse of such chemicals as chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, and green malachite, which are used to control bacteria in aquaculture, as dangerous to the Chinese populace. These products are banned for use in aquaculture in the U.S. and the E.U.
“Fishery disease prevention and control is ‘too reliant’ on these chemicals,” Liu said. “Fishery drug management policies need to be updated.”
To that end, Liu wants a greater emphasis placed on the safe development of biological controls of parasites in aquaculture within the country’s fishery drug management policies.
Her recommendations come as China is considering a series of revisions to its Fisheries Law – the legislation governing China’s seafood sector – as well as when China has begun to clamp down on pollution stemming from aquaculture, partly prompted by the overconcentration of chemicals in water released from fish farm ponds.
It has also grown more strict on the food it is letting into the country. By a wide margin, China blocked more food imports at its ports of entry year over year in 2024.
“From label compliance and proper use of food additives to the approval of new food ingredients and registration of overseas manufacturers, any regulatory misstep can lead to border rejections,” ZMUni, a consultancy based in the eastern city of Hangzhou that advises foreign importers of food, said.
Chinese authorities have clamped down on antibiotics before, but it has not led to long-lasting change.
Nevertheless, export-oriented industries like tilapia have consistently tried to persuade contracted farmers to reduce their use of chemicals in order to reduce costly delays or seizures in overseas ports.
