EC shrimp inspection team to arrive Nov 11
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Doulot Akter Mala
Both the government and shrimp exporters are taking preparation to face the upcoming inspection of a European Commission (EC) team, which is due to arrive here on November 11 next.
The exporters have been holding a series of meetings to improve industry environment while the government officials are inspecting shrimp farms to find out loopholes, officials said.
On July 23, the EC food and veterinary office sent a letter to Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Fisheries and Livestock Manik Lal Samaddar conveying its concern over presence of harmful bacteria in frozen foods.
The EC head of cabinet Philippe Brunet in a letter to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said Bangladeshi shrimp processing plants will have to satisfy the next inspection team with significant improvement of food safety issues.
The team, which is scheduled to stay during November 11- 20 period, will visit fish processing units, factories, depot, service centres, ice factory, storage, landing stations, organisations involved in fish quality control activities.
The two-member team will include Stefan Honig and John Mc Evoy of FVO office. It will visit shrimp farms in Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong.
The EU teams usually visit every year in the country to monitor food safety measures, industry insider said.
Last year, an EU inspection team has found some flaws in the shrimp processing units and antibiotic detection equipment, they said.
It had submitted a report advising the exporters and the ministry of fisheries to address those issues as soon as possible, they added.
Both the government and shrimp exporters are taking preparation to face the upcoming inspection of a European Commission (EC) team, which is due to arrive here on November 11 next.
The exporters have been holding a series of meetings to improve industry environment while the government officials are inspecting shrimp farms to find out loopholes, officials said.
On July 23, the EC food and veterinary office sent a letter to Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Fisheries and Livestock Manik Lal Samaddar conveying its concern over presence of harmful bacteria in frozen foods.
The EC head of cabinet Philippe Brunet in a letter to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said Bangladeshi shrimp processing plants will have to satisfy the next inspection team with significant improvement of food safety issues.
The team, which is scheduled to stay during November 11- 20 period, will visit fish processing units, factories, depot, service centres, ice factory, storage, landing stations, organisations involved in fish quality control activities.
The two-member team will include Stefan Honig and John Mc Evoy of FVO office. It will visit shrimp farms in Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong.
The EU teams usually visit every year in the country to monitor food safety measures, industry insider said.
Last year, an EU inspection team has found some flaws in the shrimp processing units and antibiotic detection equipment, they said.
It had submitted a report advising the exporters and the ministry of fisheries to address those issues as soon as possible, they added.