Indian rapeseed meal exporters are puzzled by the presence of malachite green in the commodity exported to China.
"Malachite green is a pesticide which is antifungal and usually used in aquaculture. But where rapeseed is produced in Northern India, aqua culture does not exist." said BV Mehta, Executive Director Solvent Extractor's Association of India.
So, where malachite green did come from?
"We are investigating." He said.
The Chinese government has quarantined shipments to the tune of 30,000 tons of rapeseed meal. The authorities there have threatened of sending back or destroying the consignments in the future if the presence is identified yet again in new exports.
Reuters recently reported that the particular warning may put pressure on Indian rapeseed meal exports.
"Now-a-days we are advising the exporters entering new contracts to ensure that the contracts being entered into, satisfies the port-loading conditions and not the export-received-condition to ensure that the shipments loaded from Indian ports stay clear of contamination."
This precaution would be in place until the current crisis is solved, said BV Mehta.
It is reported that Chinese authorities in the southern province of Guangdong were searching two Indian cargoes for malachite green, which is a chemical banned in animal feed production in China.
Since April this year, India exported 272,314 tons of rapeseed meal, a figure higher by 49.3 percent from the same period last year.
