Bangladesh aquaculture exports face key test in January

Frozen aquaculture exports in Bangladesh will face a key test in January when a top EU team inspects the fish farms and processing plants in the country.

The inspection will determine whether local produces match the quality required by European consumers.

Exporters and officials have termed the visit by the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) in January 18-29 an 'acid test' for the shrimp industry, saying it would determine the course of the second largest export earners.

Rafiqul Islam, director general of department of fisheries said, ''The future of the country's export to EU nations largely depends on the EU FVO Mission's report card on aquaculture residue monitoring activities.''

The delegation will scrutinise present situation in residues control in live animals and animal products and the control on veterinary medicinal products - measures seen as key requirements for export of shrimps to EU.

Islam added that the team will also inspect implementation of public health and residues control in aquaculture products from root level to production level so that harmful health hazards or drugs could not pass into the shrimps meant for export.

The EU is the largest importer of Bangladeshi shrimps, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the shipments made last year. The country exported $454 million worth of shrimps in the 2008-09 fiscal year.