EU reviews Ecuadorian seafood industry

A European delegation has been overseeing the production and commercialisation conditions of Ecuador's fisheries and aquaculture products during its recent eight-day visit to the country.

The inspectors of the Commission of the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General (DG SANCO) were received in Guayaquil by authorities from the National Fisheries Institute (INP), an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (MAGAP).

The main objective of the visit is to evaluate the National Monitoring Plan of Ecuador's Fisheries and Aquaculture Production and export conditions.

European delegates will work under a chronogram of activities that permit them to audit the monitoring system and later they will have a period of 20 days to issue a draft report with the findings of this visit, MAGAP explained.

The main aim is to preview the handling and commercialisation conditions of the seafood products for export from Ecuador to Europe, the authority added.

National data shows that the country's aquaculture industry exported 97% of its total production, mainly to the US and European markets, whereas the rest was commercialised in the internal market.

According to the National Aquaculture, shrimp exports represent nearly US$600 million annually, whereas that the sales of tilapia generate around US$70 million.