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Japan has officially fixed the Maximum Residue Limit [MRL] for Ethoxyquin content in shrimp at 0.2 ppm [particles per million]. This is in tandem with the preliminary limit approved by Japan in last November.
This ends the 18 month long battle between India and Japan over this issue that had jeopardized India’s exports to Japan in 2012-13. Japan notified the preliminary limit for public comments in December, 2013 and now approves this as final.
The import inspection authorities of Japan had suddenly enforced the default level of 0.01ppm for Ethoxyquin in shrimps from India and Vietnam in July 2012. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) had immediately taken up the issue with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing the lack of scientific reasoning behind their action. Subsequently, the Minister of Health, Labour & Welfare referred the matter to the Food Safety Commission (FSC) under Cabinet Secretariat to asses and recommend Accepted Daily Intake (ADI) of Ethoxyquin in shrimps. The issue was also taken up at the bilateral meetings between India and Japan including at the Prime Minister’s level. Ethoxyquin is used primarily as an antioxidant preservative in animal/shrimp feeds. It is also used in dehydrated storage of forage crops and as an anti-scald agent in fruits.
Japan’s decision had stalled India’s shrimp export to that country during July–September period of 2012. Japan had rejected several containers from India and this badly hit shrimp farming in West Bengal and Odisha region. Export of shrimp from Odisha and West Bengal regions, dropped more than 50% during that period. Total exports to Japan were 76,648 tones, valued at Rs 1999 crore in 2012-13, as against 85,800 tones valued at Rs 2140 crore in 2011-12, registering a fall of 10.67% in volume and 6.59% in value.
However, exports become better in 2013-14 and during April – November period 20.10% increase in quantity and 61.79% rise in value had been recorded compared to the same period in the previous financial year. The increased intake is mainly attributed to short supply of shrimps from other major shrimp farming countries due to the Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) disease and increased confidence in Indian farmed shrimp, especially the white leg (Litopenaeus vannamei) variety. Their total shrimp imports during the period was 29,153 tones, worth 29,651 million Yen. India now stands at third position in shrimp exports to Japan. The first position is occupied by Vietnam, followed by Indonesia, MPEDA said.
