MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )
(a) No, sir.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) to (e) It is reported that 13 consignments of seafood exported to EU countries have been rejected during 2001, out of which 8 consignments were returned to India. It is further reported that 47 consignments of seafood have been rejected during the year 2002 so far and 5 of these have been returned to India. These consignments have been rejected for reasons of chemical and microbiological contamination. The loss, if any, would have suffered by the individual exporters whose consignments were rejected and returned by the EU on the ground that these were not fit for human consumption. It is, however, not possible to make an estimate of such loss as the exporters do not normally divulge such information to the Government agencies.
(f) Government have taken a number of steps to eliminate the incidence of rejection of consignments of marine products, which include, laying down the essential requirements for hygienic handling of seafood at all stages of production, storage and transport to ensure effective compliance of the quality standards; prescribing the maximum permissible level of chemicals and heavy metals; monitoring by MPEDA and EIC of the processing units to ensure that required standards are followed; campaign by MPEDA and other government agencies in all seafood producing areas to bring quality awareness among the exporters, processors, farmers, feed manufacturers, hatchery owners, etc. and to dissuade them not to use the banned chemicals at any stage; and setting up / upgradation of laboratories for the purpose of testing of seafood at major production centers; etc.
