10 Khulna shrimp units get 'final warning' from EU

Owners of the 10 factories received the warming in the last week of May, sources in Khulna Unit of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters' Association told this correspondent yesterday.

Existence of antibiotic germ identified as 'Nitrofuran' and 'other objects' were found in packed shrimps, they said. Nitrofuran germ is detrimental to health, they said.

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When contacted, Deputy Director of Fish Inspection and Quality Control Directorate Ashraf Ali said EU the warming does not mean suspension of export. These 10 shrimp processing factories should be more careful in buying shrimps from farms and their processing, he said.

When contacted, owners of six of the processing factories facing the EU warning denied the allegations, saying they take maximum care in exporting processed shrimp and gives top priority to reputation of the country.

Frozen shrimp export from Khulna region fetched Tk 16,00 crore in foreign exchange during 2004-05 financial year, said Kazi Belayet Hossain, vice-president of BFFEA.

Meanwhile, 27 shrimp depots in Kaira upazila in Khulna were sealed by officials of Khulna Fisheries Department on June 18 on ground of violating guidelines for quality control.

Besides, Scientific Officer at the Dhaka head office of Fish Inspection and Quality Control Directorate Mohammad Mokammel Hossain has directed its Deputy Director to take necessary action against four shrimp processing factories in Khulna for not complying with EU guidelines, sources said.