December 8, 2006

Japan finds malachite green in China fishmeal shipments

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan notified the Chinese embassy in Japan that malachite green was detected in fishmeal shipped from China last week. 

Japan has since tightened its inspections of shipments of Chinese fishmeal.

Many of Japan's exports of red porgy to Canada from September last year to March this year were found to be contaminated with malachite green. Investigations revealed that the fishmeal processed from China contained higher than normal levels of malachite green. Japanese authorities believed this was the cause of malachite green residues detected by Canadian authorities in the Japanese products.  

According to Japan's feed safety rules, no substance damaging to human health are allowed in feed. Japan has accordingly banned importation of sub-standard fishmeal and asked importers and manufacturers to tighten inspections of fishmeal shipments from China. It also urged China to trace the source of the malachite green and take action to address the problem. Japan imports 700-1500 tonnes of fishmeal from China each year. About 900 tonnes of fishmeal failed to meet import requirements.