Japan raises residue limit of ethoxyquin for Indian shrimp

Japan has raised the maximum residue limit of a chemical used as feed and preservative for marine products by Indian exporters - a move that will help boost shipments of shrimp to that country.
Japan had lowered the acceptable level of ethoxyquin in shrimps, and rejected several Indian consignments of seafood.
The MRL has been fixed at 0.2 parts per million - from 0.01 ppm - in crustaceans including farmed shrimp. This ends the 18-month long battle by MPEDA, with the support of the Commerce Ministry.
A Commerce Ministry statement - quoting Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman Leena Nair - said that the Japanese health ministry has officially notified the MRL for 'Ethoxyquin'.

"Indian shrimp exporters would soon be able to enhance their shipments to Japan as the later has agreed to resolve the issue pertaining to the chemical used as feed and preservative for the marine product by end of the year," it added.
Shrimp exports to Japan, a major buyer of seafood, had been severely hit after the authorities there said that they had detected high levels of ethoxiquin, an antioxidant used as a preservative and also used in shrimp feed.
The issue was taken up with the Japanese authorities citing the lack of scientific reasoning behind their action.
During the January-November period, India's shrimp exports increased by about 20 per cent year-on-year. India was on the third position in Japan's shrimp imports list.