March 19, 2007

Indonesian shrimp exporters elated by exemption from EU shrimp ban

Indonesia, spared from an EU ban, hopes to increase shrimp exports by at least 20 per cent this year.

The EU decided that Indonesia had improved it hygienic control after the Food and Veterinary Office visited the country to inspect its production facilities.

Chairman of the Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI) Iwan Sutanto warned shrimp producers not to mix antibiotics with shrimp feed as the EU will continue to monitor shipments from the country.

The EU once threatened to ban Indonesian shrimp after finding high antibiotic content in shrimp imported from the country.

However, another seafood exporter to the EU, Pakistan not so fortunate. The EU would ban seafood shipments from the country starting April 12 as it found the production conditions unsatisfactory. The ban is expected to cost the nation US$50-60 million a year.