Shrimp export to EU resumes tomorrow

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The export of freshwater shrimp to the European Union (EU) resumes tomorrow (Monday) after six months' suspension since last June following a perceived act of disservice, reports UNB from Khulna.
On detection of health-hazardous antibiotic-nitrofuran in the exported shrimps in January 2009, over 50 consignments of lobsters bound for Europe were canceled by the importing agencies. As a result, export of the frozen shrimps, the country's second-biggest foreign-currency earner, had remained suspended since last June, creating a crisis in the sector.
The government decided on resumption of the export of this important item after receiving the "green signal" from the EU, sources said.
Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters' Association sources said some consignments of shrimp were sent back to the country from the EU after the detection of nitrofuran.
In this situation the government had suspended the shrimp export to the EU for six months on request from the association to tackle the exigency.
"The move to halt shrimp export came as a preemptive measure to avoid any sanction by the EU," said one source.
Meanwhile, the government informed the EU that Bangladesh would resume the shrimp export, as it has taken all measures to make shrimps nitrofuran-free.
Now, freshwater shrimps worth Tk three billion have been prepared here for export.
The export earning from shrimp sector was over Tk 4.14 billion in the last fiscal year, of which Tk 3.00 billion came from the EU domain.