Italy unearths shipping of Myanmar fish with Bangladesh certificate

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Jasim Uddin Haroon
Italy has seized a container full of white fish on suspicion that a local fish exporter might have shipped Myanmarese fish with certification of Bangladeshi products.
The Khulna-based Lockpur Fish Processing Company used the veterinary certificate of Bangladesh, though the container might have been loaded in Singapore, said a letter issued by the Italian government recently and sent to the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome.
The letter said the company earlier on August 29 this year shipped another container of fish to Genoa port of Italy.
The Italian government seized the container after finding that the information about the container on the website of Hanjin Shipping did not conform to the certificate attached.
The Lockpur Fish Processing Company exported fishes like Ruhi, Hilsa, Carfu, Pangash, Katla and Telapia to Italy.
Bangladesh occasionally ships such fishes as these are costlier in the local market, but cheaper in Myanmar.
Bangladesh rather imports such fishes from Myanmar to meet the local demand.
A letter issued by the Director General of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Policies of Italy has requested the Bangladesh Embassy to verify authenticity of the fishery product certificate and also to ascertain whether the container was loaded at Mongla or elsewhere.
Italy also brought the matter to the notice of the Fisheries Department and the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh.
According to information available on the website, none of the two containers moved through Bangladesh in the last one year.
When contacted, Rafiqul Islam, director general of the Fisheries Department, told the FE that he was not aware of it. "Actually, the deputy director (quality controller) in Khulna zone deals with it," he added.
However, the letter reads: "Our Border Inspection Post has noticed some anomalies in the certificate on fishery products imported from Bangladesh."
"Our doubts about authenticity of the certification also arise after being sure about movement of the container by checking the website record," the letter added.
It also said: "The container appears to have been loaded in Singapore and not in a port in Bangladesh."
When contacted, Lockpur Fish Processing Company executive director Habibur Rahman told the FE: "It's bogus."
He said: "I am not aware of seizure of any such container in Italy."
Mr Habib also said: "We've exported the product after taking the BSTI certificate and also submitted other required documents. So there is hardly any scope of manipulation."
When contacted, local frozen food exporters said the government should play a due role and take stern action if the company's involvement in such fraudulent practices is proved beyond doubt.
Md Musa Mian, president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), told the FE that he had learnt about the matter from his colleagues.
He said: "If the local company uses Bangladeshi certificate to export fish of Myanmar origin and if it is true, then genuine exporters will suffer."
He also said: "I never take the side of dishonest exporters. I want the truth to come out as quickly as possible and stern action taken in the interest of the country."