India secures EU clearance for continued aquaculture exports after compliance push – Firstpost

India secured a breakthrough for its seafood export industry after the European Union included the country in its revised draft list of nations permitted to continue exporting aquaculture products to the bloc beyond September 2026.

The development removes a significant cloud hanging over Indian seafood exporters after the EU’s earlier regulation issued in October 2024 had excluded India from the list of approved third countries allowed to ship animal-origin products for human consumption to the European market.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday, the revised draft list published by the European Union on May 12 follows a series of compliance measures undertaken by India to align with stricter European rules on antimicrobial use in food-producing animals.

The European Commission’s updated regulations require exporting countries to ensure that animals and animal products shipped to the EU are free from antimicrobial medicinal products used for growth promotion, as well as antibiotics reserved for human treatment.

Government officials described India’s inclusion in the revised list as a strong endorsement of the country’s food safety systems, regulatory oversight and residue monitoring framework.

“India’s proposed inclusion is a major positive development for the country’s seafood export sector and reflects the European Union’s confidence in India’s regulatory systems, residue monitoring mechanisms and food safety standards,” the commerce ministry said.

Once formally adopted by the European Commission, the revised regulation is expected to ensure uninterrupted exports of Indian aquaculture products to the EU market beyond September 2026.

The EU remains one of the most important destinations for Indian seafood exports. During 2025-26, the bloc emerged as India’s third-largest seafood export market, accounting for nearly 19 per cent of total export value at $1.59 billion.

Exports to the EU recorded robust growth during the last fiscal year, with shipment value rising 41.45 per cent and volumes increasing 38.29 per cent, led primarily by strong demand for farmed shrimp.

The commerce ministry said the development also acknowledges sustained efforts by agencies including the Marine Products Export Development Authority and the Export Inspection Council to strengthen regulatory compliance and promote responsible aquaculture practices.

India has in recent years expanded surveillance systems for banned antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances, while also strengthening post-harvest testing, residue monitoring and stakeholder awareness programmes across the seafood supply chain.

Officials said the country has consistently upgraded its framework relating to veterinary medicinal products, traceability and quality assurance standards in aquaculture production and seafood processing.

Aquaculture products include farmed shrimp and prawns, fish such as tilapia and seabass, shellfish including crabs and lobsters, as well as oysters, algae and seaweed cultivated commercially in controlled water environments.

The EU’s move is expected to support export growth, protect employment linked to India’s seafood sector and boost foreign exchange earnings at a time when global food safety standards are becoming increasingly stringent.