MPEDA - ECONOMY

News: India dismisses allegations of abusive conditions at shrimp farms

 

What's in the news?

       Officials recently confirmed that the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) certifies the entire value chain of India's shrimp exports, ensuring that there are no possibilities for abusive conditions at shrimp farms.

 

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA):

       It is a statutory body mandated with the primary responsibility of promoting the export of marine products.

 

 

 

Backdrop:

       Established through an act of Parliament in 1972, MPEDA merged with the former Marine Products Export Promotion Council, which was founded by the Government of India in September 1961.

 

Headquarters - Kochi, Kerala.

 

Trade Promotion Offices:

       Operates trade promotion offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, and New York.

 

Nodal Ministry:

       MPEDA operates under the purview of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

 

Functions:

       Development and regulation of offshore and deep-sea fishing, along with conservation and management measures for offshore and deep-sea fisheries.

       Registration of fishing vessels, processing plants, storage premises for marine products, and conveyances used for marine product transportation.

       Establishment of standards and specifications for marine products intended for export.

       Regulation of marine product exports and registration of marine product exporters upon payment of prescribed fees.

       Operation of five full-fledged Quality Control Laboratories located in Kochi, Nellore, Bhimavaram, Bhubaneshwar, and Porbandar.

       Establishment of fifteen ELISA Screening Laboratories across maritime states.

       Establishment of 18 Regional/Sub-Regional Divisions/Desk Offices to facilitate outreach to exporters across the country.