No subsidy as cow meat export prohibited: Nirmala Sitharaman

No subsidy is provided by the government on the export of beef or cow meat since its export is not permitted, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"No subsidy is provided on the export of cow meat. According to the existing foreign trade policy, export of beef (meat of cows, oxen and calves) is prohibited," she said in a written reply.

Replying to a separate question, she said 33 seafood consignments meant for export were rejected between January and June due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella) and banned veterinary drug residues (antibiotics) in aquacultured shrimps.

Remedial measures taken by the Marine Products Export Development Authority to bring down the number of rejections include operating a nationwide network of sophisticated quality control labs, extension of services to all stakeholders in shrimp aquaculture and appropriate training in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System, among others, the minister said.

Moreover, the Export Inspection Council (EIC), which has regulatory oversight over the marine exports, have signed confidentiality agreement with the USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) for sharing all related information that will help find the root cause of import rejection, Sitharaman said.