The Dhamara Fishing Harbour on Wednesday achieved a major success with obtaining the Export Inspection Agency (EIA) certification to export products to European counties on its own.
It has become the first EIA certified harbour in the State following approval of the Export Inspection Council (EIC), India. As per EU, a fishing harbour needs to be certified with any of agencies like the Coastal Aquaculture Authority, MPEDA, EIA and the State Government to become able to transact exports.
According to the EIA, Bhubaneswar Assistant Director, the Dhamra Fishing Harour has now become able to handle, display and auction wild caught fishery products under Rule 11 of the Export of Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish and Fishery Product (QC, I & M) Rules, 1995.
The harbour authorities had taken a number of steps to get this certification on the suggestion of the Assistant Director, who had inspected the harbour and made suggestions in 2011.
The suggestions included construction of a boundary wall for keeping its activities under a protective atmosphere, provision of water treatment facility with auto chlorine dozer and installation of U/V filters, construction of toilets before entry gate and effective drainage system to get protection from fly and other insects and covering of the whoe complex area with nylon nettings to make it fly-proof.
The harbour was also asked to take other necessary steps to maintain a hygienic condition inside its premises.