Kochi, July 28 Uncertainty looms over Indian seafood exports as catch certification have become mandatory for shipments to the European Union from January 1 and there are veiled threats from China to ban marine imports from India.
The EU regulation is meant to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and requires compliance from all seafood exporting countries to Europe. While several other countries are reportedly accelerating procedures to meet the deadline, India is said to have initiated government-to- government negotiations.
After the Government extended the ban on import of milk and milk products including chocolates from China till December 24, China’s General Administration on Quality, Supervision Inspection and Quarantine has informed that it encountered food safety problems in imports from India, including seafood. The EU and China are the two biggest export destinations for Indian seafood.
The EU was the largest market for Indian seafood, accounting for 25 per cent in quantity and 32.5 per cent in value, exports in 2008-09. Sources in the seafood trade say the share of European market, which had dropped from 35 per cent to 32.6 per cent, could fall further unless the Government initiates corrective measures immediately.
China emerged the second biggest seafood export destination last year, overtaking Japan. While China accounted for almost one-third of the volume of seafood exports last year, Mr Anwar Hashim, President of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) said it had contributed just one-sixth of the value realisation. What was most striking was the pace of growth in exports to China.
“China needs Indian seafood and India needs to export to China, so an official solution will be found for the imbroglio,” Mr Hashim added. What is most alarming is that nearly 50 per cent of Indian seafood exports were destined for these two destinations.
The EU often gives developing countries more time to comply with its guidelines and the Centre, which is already holding negotiations, should seek more time, Mr Hashim said. Some exporters felt the inclusion of fishing in India’s territorial waters for catch certification would only complicate matters and the final certification should be for catch from international waters, where rampant and unwarranted exploitation are in vogue. The EU regulation is the result of a follow-up action plan of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, FAO agreement to promote compliance with International Conservation and Management, and the UN fish stocks agreement.
In the Indian context, only the Export Inspection Council (EIC) is the designated authority to attest the veracity of health certificate for import of seafood into the EU. However, even the EIC is not empowered to issue catch certificate as per the regulations of the EU. According to seafood exporters, EIC does not have the infrastructure and personnel to physically conduct a verification audit of the fishing vessels, which is one of the basic requirements of the certifying authority as per the EU regulations.
Source : Business Line