New Delhi : India has been included in the revised draft list published by the European Union on May 12, 2026, paving the way for the continued export of Indian aquaculture products to the EU market beyond September 2026.
The move addresses concerns arising from the earlier omission of India in the EU’s Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 issued in October 2024, which had excluded India from the list of third countries authorised to export animal-origin products for human consumption to the European Union from September 2026 onward.
India’s inclusion follows a series of compliance measures undertaken in line with the European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905, which mandates exporting countries to ensure that food-producing animals and related products are free from antimicrobial substances used for growth promotion or reserved for human medical treatment.
In a communication issued on May 12, 2026, the European Commission stated that the revised list includes countries that have demonstrated compliance with EU norms on antimicrobial usage and have provided the required regulatory assurances.
The development is being viewed as a major boost for India’s seafood export sector and reflects growing confidence in the country’s food safety standards, residue monitoring systems and regulatory framework. Once formally adopted by the European Commission, the revised regulation is expected to ensure uninterrupted exports of Indian aquaculture products to EU member nations.
The European Union remains one of the largest destinations for Indian seafood exports. During 2025–26, the EU emerged as the third-largest market for Indian seafood, accounting for 18.94 per cent of total export value at US$ 1.593 billion. Exports to the region recorded robust growth compared to the previous year, with export value increasing by 41.45 per cent and export quantity rising by 38.29 per cent. Farmed shrimp continued to dominate India’s seafood exports to the EU.
The government said the development recognises sustained efforts by the Department of Commerce and agencies such as the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to strengthen compliance and promote responsible aquaculture practices.
Initiatives including the National Residue Control Programme (NRCP), post-harvest testing systems, surveillance for banned antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances, as well as stakeholder awareness programmes, have significantly enhanced India’s food safety and traceability framework.
Officials said India’s proposed inclusion reflects continued technical engagement and regulatory cooperation between India and the European Union and is expected to support export growth, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings in the seafood sector.