Bangladeshi shrimp exporters incur loss due to testing delays

Bangladeshi shrimp exporters have to wait for a long time to get a testing certificate despite the procurement of new high quality LC-MS/MS machine for the Department of Fisheries' Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC).

Md Amin Ullah, managing director Ark Sea Food Ltd said, "We send our shrimp samples for laboratory test and it takes around 18 to 20 days to get report. But normally it should take only five to seven days after installation of new machineries."

"Sometimes it takes 25 to 30 days if there are any problems in the machineries. For that we fail to make shipment on time, incur financial loss and the delay creates a negative impression among buyers."

The new Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (ULPC) machine was installed two months back in the FIQC laboratory at the Matsha Bhaban in the capital.

Md Manik Mia, FIQC officer and lab in-charge said, "We have two LC-MS/MS machines in our lab. The older one is HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and new one is ULPC. At this moment, we are operating old one but not the new one. We have to carry out different types of tests like-antibiotic, dyes and fludendazole group-as per the requirements of buyers."

He said, "At a time we can test maximum 100 samples of shrimp as samples are coming from across the country. For different types of tests we have to use different methods, chemicals and accessories. To operate new machine we need standard chemical and accessories. These product come from abroad as per the government procurement rules which is a lengthy procedure and sometimes it could not ensure the quality for the sensitive machine. Due to all these procedures it takes 18 to 20 days to prepare test reports."

He expressed the hope that at the end of this month the two machines might go for full-fledged operation.