New Delhi, March 11 As many as 19 Indian shrimp export consignments were rejected during 2025-26 after testing positive for banned antibiotics, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.
Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said seven shrimp export consignments were rejected by the European Union and 12 by the United States.
Meanwhile, no rejections were reported due to shrimp diseases or pathogens.
"Action has been taken in accordance with the EIC's complaint handling procedure and the requirements of the respective importing countries," he said.
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) has banned the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances in coastal aquaculture, permitting only certified inputs, with penalties for violations.
It also issues notices and advisories to stakeholders, and the fisheries ministry has directed all coastal states to set up Antibiotic Task Forces to monitor and penalise violations across the aquaculture supply chain.
The Export Inspection Council (EIC), which oversees export quality, conducts periodic training on Food Safety Management Systems for approved seafood establishments and mandates testing for banned antibiotics during export certification.
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) supports compliance through pre-harvest testing using ELISA kits and NABL-accredited laboratories, and runs certification programmes such as SHAPHARI for hatcheries and farms.
MPEDA, CAA, and EIC jointly implement the National Residue Control Plan to monitor antibiotic residues and ensure adherence to international standards.
The ministry has also released the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture 2025, which aims to establish a national digital traceability system across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain -- covering regulatory compliance, food safety, market access for small-scale fishers, and export promotion.