KOCHI: Seafood exporters in Kerala could soon find it tough to get health and export certificates from Export Inspection Agency (EIA).With 14 consignments being rejected by European Union (EU) and United State Food Drug Administration (USDFA) between 2015 and 2018 due to the complaints about the presence of hazardous microorganisms like Salmonella and Vibrio Cholera, the EIA has tightened competency parameters to be followed by exporting units in Kerala for ensuring quality of fish and fish products meant for exports.
“We have strengthened the parameters for ensuring 100 per cent quality of fish consignments. The labs at the export units should comply with the quality standards prescribed by the EIA and we have introduced new set of competency tests for the labs at the export units to ensure this,” said EIA Kochi deputy director Jayapalan.He said the new competency tests involved gauging the efficiency of the labs of the exporters in identifying microorganisms.
“We analyse the lab’s proficiency in identifying micro-organisms by giving sample products to these labs laced with traces of the micro-organisms and the labs should identify it correctly. This procedure is being followed to ensure labs have the requisite facilities to do the tests,” he said. He said the agency has introduced new procedures ensuring the samples given for competency tests do not pose threat to environment.
Not everyone’s smiling
Not all exporters are happy with the tough measures introduced by EIA and have raised their objection with the Seafood Exporters Association of India. It has been alleged the EIA has put the new system in place in violation of rules laid down by Ministry of Environment and Forests for manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms under the Environment (Protection) Act 29 of 1986. They said both EIA and the labs where the tests are done can be prosecuted as per the provisions of the Act.