Fish Microbiology and Quality Assurance

9.3.4.Quality control and pre-shipment inspection of fish and fishery product

Unit 9 - Assurance and management quality of fish

9.3.4.Quality control and pre-shipment inspection of fish and fishery products
The EIA is responsible for quality control and pre-shipment inspection of all kinds of fish and fishery products meant for export. The scheme of quality control and inspection system followed for fish and fishery products included,

• Consignment-wise (end product) inspection
• In-process quality control (IPQC)
• Modified in-process quality control (MIPQC)
• Self-certification and voluntary inspection

a. Consignment-wise inspection
This is a system of end product inspection for quality standards. This involves inspection of the final products by drawing and inspection of random samples to ensure conformity of the product to the prescribed standard specifications. This approach to quality control was in force in the beging of the establishment of EIA, however, dried fishery products are still inspected under this system.

b. In-process quality control (IPQC)
IPQC scheme introduced by Govt of India is in force since January 1, 1973 for processed fish and fishery products through the meaningful and effective implementation of quality control and inspection (QC&I) scheme. Under this scheme the EIA approved processing units have to fulfill minimum sanitary and hygienic facilities stipulated in Quality Control & Inspection rules and only such units are permitted to process and export fish and fishery products. The quality inspection conducted by the processing units is counterchecked by the Officer of EIA. The final product is further subjected to physical, organoleptic and bacteriological examinations and certified by EIA for export
Thus, IPQC scheme involves continuous surveillance and vigil by EIA Officers during the entire processing and packing operations starting with the receipt of the raw material till the final product is exported. This scheme was subsequently renamed in 1987 as Quality Control and Inspection in Approved Units (QCIA).

c. Modified in-process quality control (MIPQC)
MIPQC system was introduced in the processing units which have been accorded approval to process fishery products under the IPQC scheme but have certain additional infrastructural facilities like testing laboratory to ensure production of bacteriologically and organoleptically sound products for export. Such units under the MIPQC system are permitted to process and pack fish and fishery products for export under their own supervision and control by adopting in-process quality control measures, bacteriological examination of raw material and final product, and organoleptical examination of the final product.
The EIA mainly assists and guides the processors in producing wholesome and quality products. Under this scheme the processors themselves are responsibile for ensuring the quality of the product for export but the inspection certificates are being issued by EIA. This scheme was later referred to as In-Process Quality Control (IPQC) in 1987.

d. Self-certification scheme (SCS)
Under this scheme the processing units are bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring the quality of their products as required by law and also to act as Inspection Agency to certify the product for export. Only such processing units that have performed well without any problems and rejections under IPQC scheme for a stipulated period are only considered eligible for self-certification scheme. Those processing units which have all required infrastructural facilities, strict quality control system, regular quality auditing programme and established reputation qualify for SCS.

e. Voluntary pre-shipment inspection
Voluntary pre-shipment inspection is performed for the benefit of foreign buyers in respect of products which have not been brought under the purview of compulsory pre-shipment inspection.

f. EU approval
Export of seafoods not meeting the quality norms with respect to pathogens resulted in the ban on import by European union (EU) in 1999. Then, the Govt. of India through the bilateral negotiations adopted a new system of approving the seafood processing units exporting to EU countries as per EU norms 91/493/EEC. Under this scheme, all the EU approved units are monitored by a team of experts (Supervisory Audit Team) and inspected once in 2 months. As per the system, the processing units should have excellent hygienic facilities for pre-processing and processing, ice production, cold storage, water purification system, etc. The processing units should also implement the SSOP, GMP and HACCP with all relevant documents and monitoring procedures. The processing plants which are not qualified for EU approval are approved by EIA for exporting seafood to non-European countries.