Australia lifts ban on unpeeled Indian prawns after 2017
Australia just ended its eight-year ban on unpeeled Indian prawns, clearing the way for shipments from Andhra Pradesh for the first time since 2017.
The original ban was put in place after a virus scare, but steady pressure from importers in Australia and New Zealand helped change things.
Only deveined, frozen, and harvested from disease-free zones allowed
Now, only prawns harvested from disease-free zones, frozen, and deveined will be allowed in.
These rules are intended to ensure shipments are free of white spot virus, as required by Australian authorities.
A big deal for local aquaculture
This move is a win for Andhra Pradesh, which supplies most of India's shrimp exports.
State IT Minister Nara Lokesh, visiting Australia, called it a big deal for local aquaculture—especially since Andhra's shrimp has also faced high US tariffs lately.