SIBU: Sixteen aqua farms and 12 premises have been accorded European Union (EU) compliance certification.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, who stated this yesterday said, they had since shipped their consignment mostly prawns to EU.

She also clarified that the country was never banned by EU as what was reported.

“This first shipment to EU started in May 14 last year,” she told reporters after visiting Kuok Sui Sea Products Industries (S) Sdn Bhd at Jalan Lanang here.

She was accompanied by Fisheries Department Sarawak director Azlisha Ab Aziz and Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Mukah regional officer Marjuki Juli during the visit.

“It is not banned – we were never banned. Our government opted for voluntary de-registration to work on improvements,” she clarified.

Elaborating, she said following a quick spot check, some shortcomings were found on the 42 entrepreneurs, who exported their products to EU.

Hence, the government not wanting them to be banned had decided to go for voluntary de-registration, she said.

“So, we decided to improve on the condition before sending in the consignments. We do not want our image to be affected.”

Rohani said getting banned meant their goods would be rejected entry into EU.

She recalled prior to the enforcement of the stringent compliance in 2008, it was relatively easy to market products in EU.

Rohani, who is also Batang Lupar MP, however, was glad to note that things were moving in the right direction.

She said the EU compliance would also have positive bearings on the local.

“This is because our people too, will get to enjoy the best quality food,” she said

Meanwhile, Kuok Sui Sea Products Industries (S) Sdn Bhd assistant general manager Vincent Ung introduced the deputy minister to his company’s background.

Ung also dwelled on their production capacity during the briefing apart from their work processes.

He said their products – shrimps – were exported to countries such as Japan, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong and China.

Citing various researches, Ung pointed out shrimps were a good source of vitamin B12 that facilitated the brain function and formation and maturation of blood cells in the body.

“It is also an excellent source of low-fat and low-cal protein,” he said.

--The Borneo Post