**Executive Summary**
The European Union included India in its revised draft list on 12 May 2026, authorizing the continued export of aquaculture products to the EU market. This decision addresses India's previous omission from regulation (EU) 2024/2598 and ensures uninterrupted trade beyond the September 2026 deadline. The inclusion follows India's demonstrated compliance with EU antimicrobial restrictions and residue monitoring standards.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Updates and Timelines**
* India is now included in the revised draft list published by the European Union on 12 May 2026.
* This revision corrects an earlier exclusion in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, which would have halted exports of animal-origin products from September 2026.
* Formal adoption of the revised regulation is expected to provide long-term regulatory certainty for Indian aquaculture exports.
**Compliance and Food Safety Measures**
* India has aligned its practices with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905, prohibiting the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion and those reserved for human treatment.
* Food safety has been bolstered through the National Residue Control Programme (NRCP) and the Post Harvest Testing Programme.
* Rigorous surveillance and testing systems are in place for banned antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances.
* Enhancements have been made to traceability, veterinary medicinal product management, and quality assurance in seafood processing.
**Market Performance and Economic Context**
* The EU is India’s third-largest seafood market, accounting for 18.94% of total export value at US$ 1.593 billion in 2025–26.
* Export value to the EU grew by 41.45% and quantity by 38.29% over the 2024–25 period.
* Farmed shrimp remains the dominant product exported to the European region.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Seafood Exporters and Aquaculture Producers**
**Impact**
Exporters gain guaranteed access to a critical market, ensuring business continuity and supporting employment and foreign exchange earnings.
**Action Required**
Must continue to adhere to responsible aquaculture practices and maintain compliance with EU-mandated antimicrobial and residue restrictions.
**Regulatory Bodies (MPEDA, EIC, and Department of Commerce)**
**Impact**
These organizations have received recognition for their successful technical engagement and strengthening of India’s regulatory framework.
**Action Required**
Must sustain the National Residue Control Programme, provide ongoing stakeholder training, and maintain rigorous testing and surveillance systems.
**European Commission**
**Impact**
The Commission has identified India as a compliant third country that provides necessary guarantees regarding food safety standards.
**Action Required**
Needs to formally adopt the revised regulation to officially permit uninterrupted Indian aquaculture exports beyond September 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
National Residue Control Programme (NRCP): India’s primary food safety and surveillance framework designed to monitor residues and ensure aquaculture products meet international compliance standards.
European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905: The EU regulation requiring exporting countries to guarantee that animal products are free from antimicrobials used for growth promotion or reserved for human treatment.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598: The specific EU legislative act that omitted India from the authorized exporters list in October 2024, which is now being revised for India’s inclusion.
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA): The statutory body responsible for promoting seafood exports and implementing regulatory compliance for responsible aquaculture practices in India.
Export Inspection Council (EIC): The official Indian regulator responsible for the quality control, inspection, and certification of seafood products intended for export.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
EU Includes India in Revised Draft List for
Continued Export of Aquaculture Products to
European Market from September 2026
EU Emerges as India’s Third-Largest Seafood Export Market
in 2025–26; Exports Rise Over 41 Per Cent in Value Terms
MPEDA and EIC Efforts on Regulatory Compliance and
Responsible Aquaculture Practices Receive Recognition in
EU Draft List Revision
National Residue Control Programme, Rigorous Testing and
Surveillance Systems Strengthen India’s Food Safety and
Residue Monitoring Framework
Posted On: 14 MAY 2026 3:03PM by PIB Delhi
India has been included in the revised draft list published by the European Union on 12 May 2026 for
continued export of aquaculture products to the EU market, addressing concerns arising from the earlier
omission in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 issued on 4 October 2024. The earlier regulation
had not included India among third countries authorised to export products of animal origin intended for
human consumption to the EU from September 2026.
The revised draft list follows compliance measures undertaken by India in line with the European
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905, which requires exporting countries to ensure that
animals and animal products exported to the EU are free from the use of antimicrobial medicinal products
for growth promotion and antimicrobials reserved for human treatment.
The European Commission, in its press communication dated 12 May 2026, stated that the updated list
includes countries that have demonstrated compliance with EU restrictions on antimicrobial use in food-
producing animals and have provided the necessary guarantees and assurances under EU regulations.
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. Once formally adopted by the European Commission, the revised regulation is
expected to ensure uninterrupted export of Indian aquaculture products to the EU market beyond
September 2026.
The European Union is one of the key destinations for Indian seafood exports. During 2025–26, the EU
emerged as the third-largest market for Indian seafood exports, accounting for 18.94 per cent of total
export value, worth US$ 1.593 billion. Exports to the EU recorded significant growth over 2024–25, withexport value rising by 41.45 per cent and quantity by 38.29 per cent. Farmed shrimp continued to
constitute the major share of exports to the region.
The development also recognises sustained efforts undertaken by the Department of Commerce through
organisations such as the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export
Inspection Council (EIC) to strengthen regulatory compliance and promote responsible aquaculture
practices.
Initiatives including the National Residue Control Programme (NRCP), Post Harvest Testing Programme,
rigorous testing and surveillance systems for banned antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances,
as well as stakeholder training and awareness programmes, have significantly strengthened India’s food
safety and residue monitoring framework.
India has consistently enhanced its systems relating to veterinary medicinal products, antimicrobial
residues, traceability and quality assurance in aquaculture production and seafood processing. The
proposed inclusion is viewed as a positive outcome of continued technical engagement and regulatory
cooperation between India and the European Union, and is expected to support export growth,
employment generation and foreign exchange earnings from the seafood sector.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2260974) Visitor Counter : 540
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