The National Accreditation Board For Testing & Calibration Lab (NABL) has allowed an entity to certify aquaculture-related units for trade.
The Central Aquaculture Pathology Lab of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) became the first aquaculture pathology laboratory in the country to be accredited by NABL, an official statement today said.
RGCA is the research and development arm of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
RGCA has been "serving aquaculture industry of the country by providing timely and reliable diagnosis of various diseases encountered during the culture of finfish, shrimps and freshwater prawns," it said.
All the known diseases affecting the shrimp/prawn/fish are diagnosed at this lab which includes the recently emerged dreaded shrimp disease, it added.
India is one of the major exporters of marine products.
Marine product exports from India rose 42 per cent to touch an all-time high of USD 5 billion in 2013-14. The exports are expected to touch USD 6 billion this fiscal.
