Govt inaction on catch certificate threatens seafood exports

The Indian seafood export industry might face a serious threat as the central government is yet to finalise the formalities to issue catch certificates for exports to Europe. The European Union (EU) had issued a warning that it will import seafood items with a catch certificate. This will be implemented from January 1, 2010.

But, the central government has arrived at a consensus that Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) would be the nodal agency to issue the certificate.

The Commerce ministry will convene a meeting of MPEDA, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) and other bodies to settle the issue tomorrow. It is learned that the government would seek more time from EU to issue the certificates. Leading exporting countries such as Vietnam and Thailand have already sought extension of the deadline and India is likely to follow suit.

If EU is reluctant in extending the deadline, the exports would be stopped by December. Consignments sent from the first week of December should accompany a catch certificate as these would land in Europe only after January 1, 2010.

The ministry is also analysing if compliance of such certificates is against the WTO guidelines as this might be considered a kind of trade discrimination, which is against the WTO guidelines. A top MPEDA official told Business Standard that it is fully prepared to issue certificates once the government authorises them to do so.

He added that MPEDA field officers have already been instructed to help exporters to complete the formalities for issuing catch certificate.