Parliament Question: Indian Shrimp Export Consignment

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2565 ANSWERED ON 04/08/2026 INDIAN SHRIMP EXPORT CONSIGNMENT 2565. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: Will the MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state: (a) the total number of Indian shrimp export consignments rejected by major global markets like the United States and the European Union due to the presence of banned aquatic veterinary antibiotic residues (such as nitrofurans and chloramphenicol) since the implementation of the March 2025 ban, along with the details of financial losses incurred by the domestic seafood sector, (b) whether the Government has identified the exact regulatory loopholes such as the unauthorized sale of veterinary-grade drugs in local markets that allow these banned substances to continue entering the aquaculture supply chain; (c) the details of enforcement actions taken, penalties imposed and inspections carried out by the Central and State task forces to crack down on illegal antibiotic use in India's major shrimp producing coastal belts, State/district-wise; and (d) the concrete steps being taken by the Government to support small-scale shrimp farmers in Tamil Nadu with access to affordable, certified antibiotic-free feeds and seed certification programs like "SHAPHARI" to restore the global credibility of Indian sea food exports? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) As informed by the Export Inspection Council (EIC), Department of Commerce, Government of India, from March 2025 till date, a total of 35 Indian shrimp export consignments were rejected by major importing markets, namely the United States of America (USA), the European Union (EU), Japan and Russia, due to the detection of banned antibiotic residues. The details of the number, quantity and export value of the rejected shrimp export consignments are given in Annexure-I. (b) The Government has identified risks arising from the unauthorized sale and misuse of veterinary drugs and has strengthened the regulatory framework to prevent the use of banned antibiotics in aquaculture. The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), under theCoastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 (as amended in 2023), has expanded the list of prohibited substances to 75 antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances for use in coastal aquaculture. The CAA also permits only certified aquaculture inputs, prescribes penalties for violations under the Act, and issues advisories and notices to stakeholders to promote compliance and raise awareness regarding the prohibition on the use of banned antibiotics. Further, the Government has undertaken several regulatory measures during 2025 to strengthen antibiotic control in aquaculture. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, based on the recommendations of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), has prohibited the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of Chloramphenicol and Nitrofuran for use in food-producing animals and has also prohibited the import, manufacture, sale and distribution of 34 specified antimicrobial medicinal products for veterinary use. In addition, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce, has prohibited the use of 37 antimicrobials reserved for human use in aquaculture activities relating to shrimp, prawn, fish and fishery products to ensure compliance with international food safety requirements. (c) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has advised all coastal States and Union Territories to constitute Antibiotic Task Forces for monitoring the use and supply of banned antibiotics across the aquaculture value chain. Accordingly, the coastal States and Union Territories are required to undertake surveillance, inspections, and enforcement actions in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions. All coastal States have since constituted multidisciplinary Antibiotic Task Forces. The Government of India also facilitates inspection and system audits by major importing countries to assess the regulatory and monitoring mechanisms in place for the prevention, detection and control of banned antibiotic use in aquaculture. In addition, the Export Inspection Council (EIC), Department of Commerce, investigates every reported case of antibiotic-related non-compliance to identify the root cause and implements appropriate corrective and preventive measures. The EIC has also strengthened pre-export residue monitoring through stringent sampling protocols and 100% testing of consignments for export to sensitive markets such as the European Union and Japan. Establishments with repeated antibiotic-related non-compliances are subjected to temporary restrictions until satisfactory corrective actions are implemented. The Department of Fisheries does not maintain centralized database on the State-wise or district- wise inspections conducted, enforcement actions taken or penalties imposed by the State-level Antibiotic Task Forces. The respective State Governments and competent authorities under the applicable statutory provisions undertake such enforcement.(d) The Government is implementing several measures to support shrimp farmers, including small- scale farmers in Tamil Nadu, by improving access to quality aquaculture inputs, strengthening disease surveillance and promoting antibiotic-free shrimp production. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), financial assistance is provided to strengthen seed, nursery, and feed infrastructure. In Tamil Nadu, 37 nursery/seed rearing ponds have been approved at a total project cost of ₹2.59 crore, one disease diagnostic and quality testing laboratory at a project cost of ₹40 lakh, and seven fish feed mill projects at a total project cost of ₹5.20 crore. These interventions are aimed at improving the availability of quality seed and feed and strengthening disease surveillance in the State. Further, to promote the use of certified antibiotic-free aquaculture inputs, the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) has established a certification mechanism under which manufacturers and distributors are issued a Certificate of Compliance for antibiotic-free aquaculture inputs meeting the prescribed standards. So far, CAA has certified 10,109 aquaculture input products across ten categories, including aquaculture feeds, feed additives, probiotics, immunostimulants, disinfectants, chemicals and mineral mixtures, thereby facilitating the availability of quality- certified, antibiotic-free inputs to shrimp farmers. In addition, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is implementing the SHAPHARI certification programme, aligned with FAO guidelines, to promote disease-free and antibiotic-free shrimp seed and farm production. Under the programme, 50% of the audit and testing cost for hatcheries is borne by MPEDA, while farmers are not required to bear any audit or testing charges. At present, 16 hatcheries and 392 hectares of shrimp farms are certified under SHAPHARI across the country, of which one hatchery and 83.47 hectares of certified shrimp farms are located in Tamil Nadu. *******Annexure-I Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2565 put in by Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha for answer on 04th August, 2026, regarding Indian Shrimp Export Consignment. Shrimp consignments rejected by major importing markets on account of banned antibiotic residues since March 2025 till date Quantity of Number of consignments Value of consignment Country consignment (in rejected (March 2025 to date) (Cr.) MT) EU 9 145.21 9.49 USA 22 336.79 26.01 Japan 3 45.54 3.06 Russia 1 20 1.341 Total 35 547.54 39.901 *******