Exporters are dreaming to bring back the golden glorious days in the shrimp sector as a European delegation is likely to visit Bangladesh in next December, five years after its last visit.
The EU team is expected to visit some frozen shrimp exporters, shrimp production and marketing factories in Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna between December 5 and December 10 this year, Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) sources said on Saturday.
In 2018, an EU delegation visited Bangladesh, one of the largest shrimp exporting countries in the world, to witness hygienic situation, wages and facilities of the labourers, environment, quality of shrimp and its processing in different shrimp and marketing factories.
EU has rejected many consignments of Bangladeshi exporters due to the violation of their terms and conditions set for shrimp export, sources said.
Recently, the EU had send back some shrimp consignments to a section of exporters for their alleged involvement in various fraudulent activities including chemical-mixing with shrimp, white gold of Bangladesh, a BFFEA leader confirmed to the news agency.
A coordination meeting between the Khulna district administration, Department of Fisheries, BFFEA and stakeholders concerned was held at the DC’s conference room on September 4.
The meeting has requested the stakeholders, including the exporters, to maintain the quality of shrimp. It also urged the law enforcement agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion and Coastguard, to take necessary steps against chemical-mixing with shrimp in cooperation with food inspection quality control (FICQ) of the fisheries department.
Joydeb Paul, District Fisheries Officer of Khulna, said that the EU delegation will visit different shrimp production and marketing factories, depot, ice factory etc.
“The EU team mainly, aims to observe the food safety, hygienic and sanitation system, factories’ environment and environment-friendly workplace for labourers,” he said.
Replying to a question, Joydeb Paul said the buyers have rejected frozen foods especially shrimp for different causes. “The buyers received the rejected re-packing consignment later after completing their conditions,” he added.
When contacted, Sheikh Abdul Baki, Vice-President of the BFFEA, said that country’s shrimp traders are taking various steps to maintain the quality of frozen foods.
He urged the shrimp traders, exporters and producers for maintaining the quality of frozen shrimp in the global market and fulfill the expectations of the buyers.
He also demanded to repair the Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Ameen Road at Bagmara under Rupsha upazila in Khulna as over 60 per cent shrimp factories are located here side by side and urged the RAB and Coast Guard to start drives against mixing chemical with shrimp before the EU delegate’s visit.
