The stalemate over the export of aquaculture shrimp to Japan is getting worse, with the number of recent rejections having risen to 131 consignments. Detection of ethoxyquin, an anti-oxidant, in shrimp consignments has badly hit India’s exports to Japan.
Exporters, especially in Odisha and West Bengal, are sitting on orders and trusting an official delegation now in Japan would resolve the issue. As an outcome of the meeting convened by the Union commerce ministry on 27 August, the Marine Products Export Development Authority chairperson, Leena Nair, and the director, Export Inspection Council, S K Saxena, had gone to Japan. They are expected to return this Saturday.
Export to Japan has been stalled for the past six to eight weeks and exporters are not in a position to take the risk, said T R Patnaik, Chairman, Falcon Marine Exports Ltd. He told Business Standard exporters here had no prior information about testing for anti-oxidants, which suddenly begun. Exporters in the eastern region are badly hit, as a major part of the Black Tiger Shrimp produced here (about 60 per cent) was usually exported to Japan. He said at least 150 containers were in the pipe line and the potential loss was huge. If the government did not act without delay, marine exports would be in deep trouble, he added.
