Antibiotic testing facility and services will ensure a vital step in the food traceability for imported shrimp to the EC and US markets
Ecuador, the largest source for farmed shrimps and prawns in the western hemisphere - ranking fourth in the world - is helping safeguard 250,000 jobs through an agreement with BSI Inspectorate to ensure that antibiotic levels are below the permitted maximum. Last month (September 2003), BSI Inspectorate Ecuador signed a food safety agreement with the Ecuadorian government (Instituto Nacional de Pesca) for the antibiotic testing of all exported shrimp.
Testing will be performed according to the EC and US food safety standards for imported shrimp.
The agreement will run for three years and has the support of the local aquaculture chamber and of the Ecuadorian shrimp exporters.
Sergio Sanchez, vice president for foreign trade services at BSI Inspectorate, says: "Maintaining these high standards in food commodities, such as shrimp, not only protects industries and helps global trade it also ensures the health and safety of consumers too.
"Our laboratory facilities, which use the latest testing equipment, can be relied upon to be completely independent and objective. "This service will also ensure a vital step in the food traceability for imported shrimp to the EC and US markets."
