EU clears India for continued aquaculture exports beyond 2026

India has been included in the European Union’s revised draft list allowing continued export of aquaculture products to EU nations beyond September 2026. The move follows India’s compliance with EU antimicrobial regulations and is expected to boost confidence in Indian seafood safety and quality standards

New Delhi: India has been included in the European Union’s revised draft list for continued export of aquaculture products to the 27-nation bloc, a move that is expected to ensure uninterrupted shipments of these goods beyond September this year, an official statement said on Thursday.

The revised draft list was published by the European Union on May 12 after India undertook compliance measures in line with the European Commission Delegated Regulation, which requires exporting countries to ensure that animals and animal products exported to the EU are free from the use of antimicrobial medicines.

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Earlier, India was omitted from the EU’s implementing regulation issued on October 4, 2024, which had not included the country among third nations authorised to export products of animal origin intended for human consumption to the EU from September 2026.

“India’s proposed inclusion is a major positive development for the country’s seafood export sector and reflects the European Union’s confidence in India’s regulatory systems, residue monitoring mechanisms and food safety standards. Once formally adopted by the European Commission, the revised regulation is expected to ensure uninterrupted export of Indian aquaculture products to the EU market beyond September 2026,” the commerce ministry said.

The European Commission, in a communication dated May 12, stated that the updated list includes countries that have demonstrated compliance with EU restrictions on antimicrobial use in food-producing animals and have provided the necessary guarantees and assurances under EU regulations.

The EU is one of the key destinations for Indian seafood exports. During 2025-26, the EU emerged as the third-largest market for Indian seafood exports, accounting for 18.94 per cent of the total export value at USD 1.59 billion.

Exports to the EU grew 41.45 per cent in value terms and 38.29 per cent in quantity during the last fiscal, with farmed shrimp constituting the major share of exports to the region.

The statement said the development recognises sustained efforts undertaken by the Department of Commerce through organisations such as Marine Products Export Development Authority and Export Inspection Council to strengthen regulatory compliance and promote responsible aquaculture practices.

It added that initiatives including the National Residue Control Programme, post-harvest testing programme, surveillance systems for banned antibiotics and stakeholder awareness programmes have strengthened India’s food safety and residue monitoring framework.

Aquaculture products are fish and other aquatic animals or plants that are farmed or cultivated in water, instead of being caught from the wild. These include products such as shrimp and prawns. fish like tilapia, pangasius, salmon, seabass, crabs and lobsters, oysters, seaweed and algae.