Caribbean Net News: Europe bans Suriname fishery products

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The European Commission (EC) is imposing a ban on some fishery products from Suriname. Citing health and hygiene concerns, smoked fish and cultivated shrimps are banned from the European market.

A recent EC inspection in Suriname found serious shortcomings and health hazards at shrimp farms and fish processing companies. It was discovered that some of the processing companies are smoking their products with wood containing carcinogenic substances.

�Wood was being used for smoking that is not safe and which was linked with production of carcinogens, so there was a risk of cancer for humans,� said EC spokesman Philip Tott in an interview with Radio Netherlands.

Suriname exports approximately 390 tons smoked fish products to the Europe Union (EU) valued 1.6 million euros, mostly to the Netherlands and Great-Brittain.

�In the pond shrimp sector the establishments that inspectors visited were in very bad condition and there was no proper authorisation procedure by the authorities. Establishments were not complying with our standards,� said Tott.

Due to poor hygiene at some of the shrimp farms and other shortcomings, farmers were not able to show whether their products were free from residues of medicines used to cure diseases in the ponds.

Shrimp exports from Suriname to the European Union reach up to 100,000 tons annually. According to experts it could take months or even years before the EU could lift the ban. Shrimps that are caught at sea and fresh fish products could still enter the European market.

Meanwhile, the Suriname authorities have not yet been officially notified by the EC of the ban.

At a press conference, Thursday Fisheries Minister Kermechend Raghoebarsing noted that there are arrangement with the EU to establish a new inspection authority in Suriname. He further stated that currently the fishery sector is being inspected thoroughly on various aspects.

�Workers are being checked for health, the production process, the working environment, even the administration of the companies are being examined and if they are not okay we impose sanctions,� said the cabinet minister. Two companies that failed to comply with the regulations were closed by the authorities, he disclosed.

According to Raghoebarsing the authorities are doing the best they can but laboratory facilities have not yet been established. Therefore samples of the products are sent to Europe for inspection, which results in extra expenses for the companies.

Meanwhile, the establishment of these facilities are scheduled for the near future in order to conduct the inspections in Suriname.

Minister Raghoebarsing noted that the government is very surprised by the sanctions since the government is in dialogue with Brussels �to execute an action programme with a good timetable� to comply with all the standards.

Exporters were also surprised Thursday when they were confronted with the sanctions. It is alleged that the EU never informed them about any shortcomings they should improve.

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