MPEDA opens ELISA Lab at Haroa, North 24 Parganas District, West Bengal

The farmed shrimps meant for export to EU are mandated to undergo Pre Harvest Testing (PHT) in the ELISA Laboratories set up by MPEDA. The raw material is screened for the presence of banned antibiotic residues such as Nitrofurans and Chloramphenicol. MPEDA has set up 16 ELISA Laboratories for this Pre Harvest Testing certification programme in the farming clusters of coastal states right from Gujarat to West Bengal. 

Responding to the demands from the aqua farmers of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, MPEDA has opened its 16th ELISA Laboratory at Haroa today, 10th September 2021.  The laboratory is expected to cater to the antibiotic testing needs of aqua farmers in entire North 24 Parganas district.

The lab was formally inaugurated by Mr. K.S. Srinivas IAS, Chairman, MPEDA, in presence of Mr. I.P.R. Mohan Raju., President, Prawn Farmers Association of India, Hyderabad and Mr. Rajarshi Banerjee, Member, MPEDA and President, Seafood Exporters of India, West Bengal region, Mr. Apurba Saha, Director, M/s. Blue Sea Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd., S. G. Dwivedi, Joint Director, EIA, Kolkata. The function was attended by Dr. M. Karthikeyan, Director, MPEDA, Dr. Ram Mohan M.K., Joint Director (QC), MPEDA, Mr. Anil Kumar. P, Joint Director (M), MPEDA, Sri Mahesh, Deputy Director (Lab), Mr. Archiman Lahiri, Deputy Director, MPEDA, Regional Division, Kolkata, farmers, and other MPEDA officials. 

In his felicitation address, Mr.IPR Mohan Raju. appreciated the initiative taken by the Chairman to open an ELISA lab at Haroa and told that this will help the exporters to check the quality of shrimps grown by farmers thereby reducing the antibiotic rejections instances. Mr. Rajarshi Banerjee recalled the request placed by him to Chairman, MPEDA on the need for the ELISA laboratory and said that it will go a long way in sourcing quality raw material from the region. Sri Apurba Saha thanked MPEDA for the much awaited initiative for opening up of the Lab. Sri S. G Dwivedi emphasized on the need of ELISA testing for securing quality raw material and first step towards esurient of quality.

Chairman, MPEDA while inaugurating the ELISA Screening Lab and emphasized on the need to contain the detection of antibiotic residues in farmed shrimp consignments in markets such as EU, USA and Japan for enhancing our market share by ensuring the quality. He urged the farmers to utilize the laboratory services at its maximum so that they will get a better sales value by ensuring the quality and traceability of the produce.  Chairman, MPEDA also expressed delight over the positive approach expressed by famers of the district to with hold the species Black Tiger.

Earlier, Dr. M. Karthikeyan delivered the introductory remarks and welcomed the participants, which was followed by a district synopsis on North 24 Parganas on fisheries aspect and a video footage of laboratory facilities. Mr. Archiman Lahiri gave a brief presentation on the fisheries profile of the North 24 Parganas district and also proposed the vote of thanks.