Kolkata/UNI: China has lifted suspension of 99 Indian seafood-processing and exporting units, after acknowledging New Delhi’s assurance over source control, setting the stage for a boost in the bilateral trade of marine products.

Sustained efforts by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), among others, have been crucial to India’s eventual success in getting lifted China’s suspension of a total of 110 units since December 2020, according to top officials.

The February 14 lift on the suspension of the 99 seafood-processing units is expected to raise India’s export of marine products by 5 per cent to 10 per cent in the next financial year, MPEDA Chairman DV Swamy said on Thursday.

Non-conformity with the trade requirements of China upon virtual inspection had led to non acceptance of Seafood cargo from the concerned units.

Efforts by MPEDA, along with the Export Inspection Council, Embassy of India at Beijing and the Department of Commerce, yielded fruition, as all the units have complied with the requirements of (GACC).

India had 475 establishments that exported seafood during 2021-22.

The country’s seafood export to China was worth $1,175.05 million in 2021-22, clocking a 25 per cent rise over the $939.17 earned in the previous financial year.

The lifting of indefinite suspension imposed by China came on the eve of MPEDA’s February 15-17 India International Seafood Show 2023 being held in the city in association with the Seafood Exporters Association of India.