April 9, 2009

Indian seafood exports to Japan have hit a bump after the foreign country's food regulator found pesticide residues in cultured shrimp consignment from India.

The incident has triggered off concerns as Japan is the second largest importer of Indian seafood items after the EU.

According to industry sources, the Japanese Food and Safety Authority (JFSA) has detected pendimethalin, a pesticide residue, beyond the standard level in a cultured shrimp consignment from a company based in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin.

Any Japanese action will risk India's performance in exports as this sector is currently reeling from issues such as low international demand due to the economic slowdown and cancellation of orders from EU and South Africa.

In the wake of the detection, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has alerted the Japanese Quarantine Station Directors (QSD) to strengthen monitoring and inspection of shrimps imported from India.

Sources said that QSD has already enhanced the frequency of quality check and 30 percent of the Indian consignments would be checked thoroughly by the quarantine stations.

The ministry also warned that in case of any further non-compliance of safety standard, a complete inspection of consignments of Indian shrimp will be imposed as per the Japanese Food Sanitation Law.

According to sources, this may further lead to a complete ban on the Indian imports.

According to Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), JFSA detected pesticide residue only in one shipment that might have happened due to the water used for agricultural purpose.