The Hindu Business Line : US team inspecting seafood factories

A US Department of Commerce team has come down to the country to inspect the seafood factories of the three mandatory respondents, who have been asked to submit details on their procurement, processing and production statistics, in relation to their US export operations.

"The team is currently in Vizag and would be authenticating the veracity of the statistics which had been provided," Mr Mohan Kumar, Chairman of MPEDA, said.

They are scrutinising the books of Nekkanti seafoods, which has been slapped a anti-dumping duty of 9.16 per cent by the US Department of Commerce.

They are also expected to visit the factories of Devi Seafoods in Tamil Nadu, on which anti-dumping duty of 3.56 per cent has been imposed, as well as those of HLL with 27.40 per cent duty.

"The imposition of 27.40 per cent on HLL was mainly due to a significant portion of the group's audit fees was added to the costing of the seafood processing unit. We will be contesting this and hope to obtain a positive response," Mr Abraham Tharakan, Chairman of SEAI, said.

After the scrutinising the books and hearing the Indian side, a final determination of duties is expected on December 16.

More Stories on : Foods & Food Processing | Anti-dumping

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