The Hindu Business Line : Seafood exporters to tackle Japanese fears over quality

A SIX-member delegation, comprising seafood exporters and Government officials, left for Japan on Monday to address quality concerns that have come to the fore in shrimp trade with Tokyo. The industry hopes to tackle the issue by highlighting the technology and standards available in the processing units.

A delegation that includes members from the Seafood Exporters Association of India, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council will apprise the Japanese importers' associations and Government agencies about the quality systems in place in the seafood processing units, they said.

According to MPEDA officials, the team will also look at future prospects in trade with Japan, changes in market requirements and opportunities to widen product base. It will also address problems, if any, that the importers face.

According to industry sources, in the last few years Japan's shrimp purchase from India has declined drastically. Japan's shrimp purchases during the 2002 is estimated around 30,000 tonnes. This is 40-50 per cent down from its purchases between 1996 and 2000 when it bought about 50,000-59,000 tonnes. However, Japan's imports have ranged around 2.5 lakh tonnes per year during this period indicating that it has looked to alternate sources of supply.

According to industry sources, during 2002 Japanese importers complained of a `muddy smell' in some of the shrimp stocks exported out of India. This related to some consignments exported during the middle of the year. This resulted in major claims for compensation by the importers. Some Mumbai-based processors are facing several crores rupees worth of such claims as do other processors on the east coast.

When contacted by Business Line, Mr Raghunatha Reddy, President, Seafood Exporters Association of India - Andhra Pradesh region, said the quality concerns, particularly those relating to a `muddy smell' in some shrimp stocks had been largely addressed. At a meeting with Japanese Importers' Association representatives at the seafood exposition held in Goa recently, the issue was discussed. The exporters pointed out that stocks had been exported to Vietnam and Thailand without any such problems, he said.

The culture practices in shrimp farming had been standardised and perfected over the last decade, he said. However, random instances of foul smell have been observed from stocks obtained from areas where fish culture was being practiced simultaneously. The farmers would have to be educated on pond maintenance for shrimp culture, he said.

The Indian delegation will make a series of presentations in major cities in Japan highlighting the quality standards prevailing in India.

The processing units in India have adhered to the US standards and those laid down by the EU. These were for shrimp stocks that are subjected to various levels of processing. However, Japan has not laid down such standards as it largely purchases raw stocks that are just cleaned and graded.

Further, the US has emerged a major buyer with a 9 per cent growth in shrimp exports as compared to last year. Raw material availability was low because the culture was in-between season now and demand was also low. Therefore, there is no pressure on the buyers and the sellers.

With shrimp arrivals picking up later in the season, the purchases would pick up, he said.

Industry sources said there was a need to implement a mechanism for `traceability'. This will mean that raw material from farms will have to tracked through the processors to the consumer markets. This will enable accountability when stocks are rejected on various grounds.

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