Belgian lab questions nitrofuran testing procedure
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Munima Sultana
A renowned Belgian laboratory has opposed the new analytical procedure being followed to detect 'nitrofurans' in fresh water prawn consignments in Belgium.
More than 50 fresh water prawn consignments from Bangladesh were rejected from different European countries, mostly from Belgium, recently due to the detection of toxic antibiotic, nitrofuran, in them.
Official sources said the Belgian authorities detected semicarbadize (SEM), a metabolite of nitrofurazon, from these consignments as they are now taking whole part, instead of flesh parts, of the prawn for analysis in the new procedure.
However, Laboratory of Aquaculture of Artemia Reference Centre (ARC), an independent research centre under Belgium's Ghent University, expressed its surprise at the tests following the new procedure.
In an email message sent by ARC director Prof Dr Patrick Sorgeloos to local authorities said so many alerts about the presence of nitrofuran were reported in Belgium and not in other EU countries that happen to import from the same sources.
ARC, involved in interdisciplinary research on aquaculture including freshwater prawn macrobrachium, found that Belgium issued 41 red alerts for higher presence of SEM in the last six weeks which was 24 one year before.
The finding also showed that only four red alerts were issued in the United Kingdom and one each in New Zealand and Germany during the last six weeks.
The ARC director said that SEM is indeed a metrobolite of nitrofurazon but it cannot be formed as a product of various chemical reactions that involve natural compounds in absolute absence of nitrofurazon or other nitrofurans.
"The exoskeleton of macrobrachium contains SEM but the tail of the same fish tests negative for SEM. Very likely thus that the SEM detected in the exoskeleton of macrobrachium is not of nitrofurazon origin but formed as the result of a chemical reaction with bloactive compounds in the exoskeleton," Professor Sorgeloos added in the message.
He said macrobrachium exports might be due to non-justified change in the analytical protocols for SEM in Belgium.
The Belgium alone imports 25 per cent of the country's fresh water prawn. About 40 per cent of the country's total export of frozen foods go to EU countries. Fresh water prawn export to EU countries was banned for six months in May.
The message was circulated to different offices including the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation, Department of Fisheries in last week of May.
When contacted, the officials said they were aware of the email message and it has been reviewed by the experts.
They said the recent ban on prawn export has been issued to increase the country's capacity to deal this kind of critical situation.
A high official of Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries preferring anonymity also said the country is trying to understand new testing methodology which is yet to be accepted in the EU countries.
He said it is under scrutiny and all concerned are trying to increase the capacity to deal the situation. "We do not have the expertise to deal this situation," the official added.
When asked about the new finding, the BSFF managing director Dr Mahmudul Karim said they are aware of the Belgium's new analytical procedure and now trying to examine the old and new practices thoroughly to detect lapses and gaps in the country's existing testing system.
A renowned Belgian laboratory has opposed the new analytical procedure being followed to detect 'nitrofurans' in fresh water prawn consignments in Belgium.
More than 50 fresh water prawn consignments from Bangladesh were rejected from different European countries, mostly from Belgium, recently due to the detection of toxic antibiotic, nitrofuran, in them.
Official sources said the Belgian authorities detected semicarbadize (SEM), a metabolite of nitrofurazon, from these consignments as they are now taking whole part, instead of flesh parts, of the prawn for analysis in the new procedure.
However, Laboratory of Aquaculture of Artemia Reference Centre (ARC), an independent research centre under Belgium's Ghent University, expressed its surprise at the tests following the new procedure.
In an email message sent by ARC director Prof Dr Patrick Sorgeloos to local authorities said so many alerts about the presence of nitrofuran were reported in Belgium and not in other EU countries that happen to import from the same sources.
ARC, involved in interdisciplinary research on aquaculture including freshwater prawn macrobrachium, found that Belgium issued 41 red alerts for higher presence of SEM in the last six weeks which was 24 one year before.
The finding also showed that only four red alerts were issued in the United Kingdom and one each in New Zealand and Germany during the last six weeks.
The ARC director said that SEM is indeed a metrobolite of nitrofurazon but it cannot be formed as a product of various chemical reactions that involve natural compounds in absolute absence of nitrofurazon or other nitrofurans.
"The exoskeleton of macrobrachium contains SEM but the tail of the same fish tests negative for SEM. Very likely thus that the SEM detected in the exoskeleton of macrobrachium is not of nitrofurazon origin but formed as the result of a chemical reaction with bloactive compounds in the exoskeleton," Professor Sorgeloos added in the message.
He said macrobrachium exports might be due to non-justified change in the analytical protocols for SEM in Belgium.
The Belgium alone imports 25 per cent of the country's fresh water prawn. About 40 per cent of the country's total export of frozen foods go to EU countries. Fresh water prawn export to EU countries was banned for six months in May.
The message was circulated to different offices including the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation, Department of Fisheries in last week of May.
When contacted, the officials said they were aware of the email message and it has been reviewed by the experts.
They said the recent ban on prawn export has been issued to increase the country's capacity to deal this kind of critical situation.
A high official of Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries preferring anonymity also said the country is trying to understand new testing methodology which is yet to be accepted in the EU countries.
He said it is under scrutiny and all concerned are trying to increase the capacity to deal the situation. "We do not have the expertise to deal this situation," the official added.
When asked about the new finding, the BSFF managing director Dr Mahmudul Karim said they are aware of the Belgium's new analytical procedure and now trying to examine the old and new practices thoroughly to detect lapses and gaps in the country's existing testing system.