India Back on EU Draft List for Aquaculture Exports After Earlier Omission

OVERVIEW

The European Union has included India in a revised draft list for continued exports of aquaculture products. The draft list was published on 12 May 2026. This is important for Indian seafood exports to the 27‑member bloc. Earlier, India was omitted from an EU regulation issued on 4 October 2024. That regulation would have stopped Indian exports of animal products to the EU from September 2026. Now, the new draft list allows export continuity beyond September 2026. During 2025‑26, the EU was India’s third‑largest seafood export market, with farmed shrimp making up a major share.

EU PUBLISHES REVISED DRAFT LIST INCLUDING INDIA

On  12 May 2026 , the European Union released a revised draft list of countries allowed to export aquaculture products to the EU. India was included in this list. This draft list is linked to  export continuity beyond September 2026  for Indian aquaculture shipments to the EU market. If finally approved, Indian seafood will continue to reach European customers without interruption.

EU RULES ON ANIMAL‑ORIGIN EXPORTS

The European Commission has a regulation called  Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 . This rule requires exporting countries to ensure that animals and animal products sent to the EU are  free from antimicrobial medicinal products used for growth promotion . The same regulation also covers antimicrobials that are reserved for human treatment. India has been working to meet these strict standards.

INDIA’S EARLIER OMISSION AND REGULATORY CONTEXT

On  4 October 2024 , the EU issued  Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 . That regulation had  not authorised India  for exports of products of animal origin for human consumption to the EU from  September 2026 . This was a big concern for Indian seafood exporters. The omission happened because of concerns over antimicrobial use in aquaculture. However, India has since taken steps to improve compliance, and now the revised draft list has brought India back.

SEAFOOD TRADE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION

The EU is a very important market for Indian seafood. During the financial year  2025‑26 :

• The EU was India’s  third‑largest seafood export market .

• The EU accounted for  18.94% of India’s total seafood export value .

• The total value of seafood exports to the EU was  USD 1.593 billion .

• Farmed shrimp  formed a major share of these exports.

Losing access to the EU after September 2026 would have hurt Indian seafood exporters badly. The new draft list brings relief.

INSTITUTIONAL ROLE IN COMPLIANCE

Several Indian agencies worked hard to achieve this inclusion:

• Department of Commerce

• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)  – a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

• Export Inspection Council (EIC)  – India’s official agency for quality control and inspection of seafood exports