Bangladesh shrimp export to EU is again facing major setback as the EU slapped a stringent testing requirement on fishes produced in the country. Industry insider said that fish importers of the 27 nations that account for more than 50 percent of the shrimps Bangladesh ships to the world have informed local exporters that the EU would test at least 20 percent of the cargoes head to its ports from May.
“It’s a big setback for our shrimp industry,” said Maqsudur Rahman, vice president of the Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association, the industrial grouping that represents the industry. He added that the export of shrimps would be unduly delayed due to the tough testing measures. The EU importers will also punish us by offering cheaper rates. Experts believe that Bangladesh ships around half billion dollars worth of shrimp every year, making it the country’s second largest export item. The industry employs more than a million people mainly in the country’s impoverished southwestern coastal districts.
Earlier the EU had tested shrimp consignment from Bangladesh at random – a standard being followed all over the world. Most other fish exporting nations including Vietnam and Thailand also undergo similar testing procedure. Exporters said the EU decision follows inspection of Bangladeshi shrimp production and processing standards by a team of its Food and Veterinary Office in January.
There were halts of export of seafood from Bangladesh very often but the latest setback adds more woes to the country’s export industry already reeling due to the global recession. Shrimp is considered a luxury food item by the western consumers who have been the hardest hit by the recession – the worst since the Second World War.
