China has lifted the suspensions that it had placed on 99 Indian seafood processing and exporting units, after acknowledging New Delhi’s assurances over source controls.
The move also sets the stage for a boost in the bilateral trade of marine products, according to India’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Sustained efforts by MPEDA have helped lift China’s suspension of a total of 110 units since December 2020, according to officials.
This latest lift is expected to raise India’s export of marine products by 5% to 10% in the next financial year, MPEDA Chairman Shri DV Swamy said.
Non-conformity with the trade requirements of China upon virtual inspection had led to the non-acceptance of seafood cargoes from the concerned units, but subsequent efforts by MPEDA, along with the Export Inspection Council, Embassy of India at Beijing and the Department of Commerce, have seen all units comply with GACC requirements.
India had 475 establishments that exported seafood during 2021-22.
The country’s seafood exports to China were worth more than $1.175 billion in 2021-22 – a 25% rise over the $939.17 earned in the previous financial year.
