|
The MPEDA QC laboratory at Cochin was set up in 1976, so as to ensure that the products exported by the Indian Seafood Industry meet the international standards. At its inception it was testing for microbiological parameters such as TPC, Coliforms, Salmonella, Vibrio chlorae etc.and monitoring pesticides like BHC, Aldrin, DDT, Dieldrin and Endrin and heavy metals like Mercury, Cadmium in fish and fishery products. The residue control plan for aqua cultured products is implemented since 1998 in India so as to comply with the EU Directive 96/23/EC to ensure the safety of the fishery products exported to European Union.
Due to change in trends in international trade and the problem of occurrence of banned antibiotics in aquaculture products, the laboratories were strengthened with more sophisticated equipments like Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometer (LC MS MS), for the analysis of banned Antibiotics, Chloramphenicol and Nitrofurans and ICP OES for the analysis of the chemical elements and Gas Organo- chlorine pesticides such as BHC, Aldrin, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor. In addition the laboratories have the facility for testing of Anti microbial substances like Tetracycline/Oxy-tetracycline, Sulphadazine & Bacterial Inhibitors and Hormones like Progesterone, Estrogen, Diethyl stilbestrol.
The laboratories at Nellore and Bhimavaram are catering to the needs of the aquaculture farmers and processors of in Andhra Pradesh, the state that is the major cultured shrimp and finfish production center in India. These laboratories are managed by trained and skilled professionals. |
|