India to step up vigil to cut use of antibiotics in seafood

India has decided to step up vigil on its aquaculture farms as the European Union, one of it biggest markets, has tightened monitoring after detection of trace antibiotics.

Seafood exports from India have reached an all time high at $5.78 billion in 2016-17, with shrimp accounting for 38.28% share in terms of quantity and 64.5% of the total earnings.

However, these markets have increased checks on shipments from India in the wake of detection of antibiotics such as nitrofuran and chloramphenicol in shrimp exported from here.

Devendra Chaudhary, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries held a meeting with officials from coastal states, National Fisheries Development Board, and industry representatives to discuss the stepped up regulatory monitoring by the EU. The DADF will coordinate and monitor efforts to put in place a stringent monitoring program to cut use of antibiotics in aquaculture and penalise companies found using the same.