Why MPEDA Catch Certificate is Important for Marine Product Exporters?

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Why MPEDA Catch Certificate is Important for Marine Product Exporters?

In India, the maritime industry is creating international trade, foreign exchange, and employment opportunities. To increase the growth of the industry and avoid illegal activities government created MPEDA  Act in 1972. 

If you are a seafood business owner, then you need a catch certificate issued by MPEDA to import or export the seafood. A Catch Certificate needs to prevent illegal unregulated and unregistered fishing activities in the country.

Also, this certificate provides authority to the business that its activities are legal in nature. To get the certificate, businesses have to go through a procedure. Here in the article, we discuss that it is really required to have a catch certificate to set up a business and carry on services.

What Does MPEDA Mean?

MPEDA stands for Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) which is a nodal agency for the development of the seafood industry in India. The authority is set up under Section (4) of the MPEDA Act. 1972 and starts the function from April 20th, 1972. 

The MPEDA works under the Department of Commerce. It worked on the development of marine products industry export. Its headquarters are in Kochi and others in regional and sub-regional offices.

What is MPEDA Catch Certificate?

The MPEDA validates catch certificates for the export of seafood to EU countries. It started issuing the catch certificates from January 1st, 2010 onwards. First, the paper-based catch certificates were issued but after April 1st, 2019 the certificates start being issuances digitally the system upgraded to online.

The EU has amended a Union Catch certification scheme and developed a new IT system called “CATCH IT” to resolve the issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. 

This amended regulation also covers food safety and protection of consumer interests, which implements in all EU states and importing countries.

How India is Increasing the Seafood Export Business?

In the world, India is the third-largest fish producer and second-largest aquaculture producer with an estimated Rs. 334 billion in revenue through the fishing industry. 

But the lack of proper infrastructure facilities and landing sectors leads to post-harvesting loss and reduces the quality of fish exported, which is last reduces the realization cost.

MPEDA is playing an important role to set international standards which facilitates better quality and pricing. For this India is using its Blue Revolution Scheme which increases the export by using the existing resources. Also, it offers financial assistance schemes on infrastructure development for gaining international certifications.

Why MPEDA Catch Certificate Required to Start a Seafood Business?

The Marine Products Export Development Authority has requested all fishing boat operators and seafood exporters to follow the catch certificate validation scheme. These new regulations validated the catch certificate which requires the consignment of fish, shrimp, squid, octopus, etc. exported to the EU. 

The certificate requires all the consignments made out of catches from the sea. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the US and other fishery managements like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission want the healthy growth of fishery rector by removing the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices.

These regulations are applicable for the export of consignments directly or through third countries. All the major seafood-exporting countries have implemented the scheme in the EU countries.

The catch certificate must be validated and countersigned by the government authority. Every year India exports Rs 2800 crore worth of seafood to EU countries which is one-third of the total country’s seafood.

The MPEDA does an arrangement to monitor the catch supply of the EU countries by boats to export directly and through agents to validate the catch certificate. Also, MPEDA has decided to supply log sheets to boats to indicate supply.

A computer system uses for the data entry and fast validation of catch certification, etc. The log sheet should submit within 72 hours of unloading the catch.

Conclusion

An MPEDA catch certificate is important for seafood export businesses. So, if you are looking to start a Seafood Export Business then you should apply for the license. 

At Registrationwala, we assist businesses to get Seafood Export License under MPEDA seafood export regulations. You get end-to-end guidance in the following process:

• Comply with all required documents
• Application filing
• Aid during the application assessment
• Obtaining the MPEDA registration certification from the authority

To know the complete process and nitty-gritty of the registration process then reach out to us for proper assistance.

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