China improves inspection at fish farms

China will improve the inspections on the use of antibiotics in fish farms, after malachite green, a cancer-causing chemical to kill parasites as well as nitrofurans, an antibiotic had been found in food samples.

Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration said a sampling of imported Chinese seafood from October 2006 through May 2007 found more than 15% of shipments were contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for use in farm-raised seafood in theUnited States.

Get hold of antibiotic use
"We are focusing on getting a hold on antibiotic use, especially overuse of antibiotics on fish and crustaceans, including nitrofurans and malachite green," Zhang Yuxiang, director of the market and economic information department of the Ministry of Agriculture, told a news conference on Wednesday.

China is the largest producer of farmed fish, handling 50% of the total value of global farmes sea product exports around the world. Its top export market for seafood is Japan, and it is also the third-largest exporter of seafood to the United States.

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