SGS, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, is calling for increased vigilance among seafood producers to prevent antibiotic and drug residue contamination.
The company warns that as aquaculture intensifies worldwide, the misuse of antibiotics continues to threaten food safety and environmental health.
Disease management in farmed species such as shrimp, salmon, trout, tilapia and catfish remains a major challenge. Many aquatic illnesses stem from viruses, parasites or immune suppression rather than bacterial infection, yet antibiotics are still frequently used as a preventive measure. This practice contributes to antimicrobial resistance and contamination risks that extend beyond aquaculture.
Recent data from the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) highlights the growing scale of the problem. In the first ten months of 2025, RASFF logged 26 notifications involving drug residues in seafood, continuing a sharp upward trend after a 50% rise in alerts during 2024 compared with 2023.
Strict EU regulations ban substances such as chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, malachite green and crystal violet due to their toxicity and links to antimicrobial resistance. However, the legal use of antibiotics including quinolones, tetracyclines and sulfonamides still demands close monitoring to ensure compliance, given the potential for cross-contamination and naturally occurring residues.
SGS operates a global network of laboratories using accredited LC-MSMS testing to detect antibiotic residues in seafood. The company supports exporters and processors across key production regions such as China, India and Latin America to meet international safety standards and maintain market access.
