September 6, 2007

Taiwan's eel breeders deny using banned drugs

Taiwan's eel breeders are asking authorities to investigate claims that eels from their farms were contaminated with banned drugs.

Eel breeders in the southern county of Chiayi claimed that the eels authorities found with contaminated drugs were from eels smuggled from overseas 

Earlier, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) released laboratory test results showing that eels from seven aquaculture farms around the island contained residue of the banned antibiotic enrofloxacin.

The seven eel farms included four located in Yunlin County, two in Kaohsiung County and one in Chiayi County.

Tang Ching-chung, chairman of the Chiayi County eel and shrimp aquaculture farmers' association, said it was highly unlikely that any fish farmer would risk their lucrative business of exporting eels to Japan by using banned drugs.

All members were aware of the strict standards employed by Taiwan and Japan's customs authorities, especially that relating to living fish cargoes, Tang said.

Japan is Taiwan's largest eel market, buying more than 70 percent of Taiwan-bred eels.