Seafood exporters and Marine Products Exports Development Authority (Mpeda) is concerned over the inordinate delay in getting permission for the Indian team’s visit to South Africa following the rejection of Vannamei shrimp export consignment.

The matter has been taken up with the South African High Commission delegation led by Mkhululi Mankazana, Minister Counsellor Agriculture Affairs on their visit to Kochi.

The issue of rejection of Vannamei shrimp consignment following the detection of Vibrio cholera in the shipment by National Regulator for Compulsory Specification (NRCS) was brought to the notice of the visiting High Commission delegation.

A Jayathilak, Chairman, Mpeda, told BusinessLine that the aim of the Indian team’s visit to South Africa is to study the sampling methodology and procedure adopted by NRCS controlled labs. The visit assumes significance to sort out the issue immediately and prevent the risk of losing India’s export market there. Though South Africa accounts for only 1-2 per cent of Indian shrimp exports, it is an emerging market as far as seafood exports are concerned, he said.

Sources in the seafood sector pointed out that the detention of around 100 containers of shrimp consignment from the country would be worrisome as the industry is passing through a critical phase during the business slowdown era.

The development has added woes to the sector when the European Union also has adopted tougher testing norms for seafood exports from India by enhancing the norms of samplings to 50 per cent from the earlier 10 per cent, the sources in the trade said.

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