January 25, 2014

Following the preliminary ethoxyquin limit in shrimp approved by Japan last November, the country has officially fixed the maximum residue limit (MRL) for ethoxyquin content in shrimp at 0.2 particles per million (ppm), ending the 18-month long battle between Japan and exporters including India and Vietnam.

The top shrimp exporters to Japan are Vietnam, followed by Indonesia and India. Japan notified the preliminary limit for public comments in December 2013 and now approves this as final.

In July 2012, the import inspection authorities of Japan had enforced the default level of 0.01ppm for ethoxyquin in shrimps from India and Vietnam.

Ethoxyquin is used primarily as an antioxidant preservative in animal/shrimp feeds. It is also used in dehydrated storage of forage crops and as an anti-scald agent in fruits.

The Indian Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) immediately took up the issue with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing the lack of scientific reasoning behind their action. Subsequently, the Minister of Health, Labour & Welfare referred the matter to the Food Safety Commission (FSC) under Cabinet Secretariat to assess and recommend the accepted daily intake (ADI) of ethoxyquin in shrimps. The issue was also taken up at the bilateral meetings between India and Japan including at the Prime Minister's level.

During July-September of 2012, Japan's decision had stalled India's shrimp export to that country. Japan had rejected several containers from India during the period, and this significantly dropped more than 50% in Odisha and West Bengal regions' shrimp exports. Total exports to Japan were 76,648 tonnes, valued at INR1999 crore (US$322 million) in 2012-13, as against 85,800 tonnes valued at INR2140 crore (US$345 million) in 2011-12, registering a fall of 10.67% in volume and 6.59% in value.