SGS urges vigilance on antibiotic residues in seafood

SWITZERLAND – Seafood producers have been urged to strengthen surveillance and control of antibiotic residues as global aquaculture expands and contamination alerts continue to rise. 

SGS, one of the world’s largest testing, inspection and certification companies, recently issued this call, warning that misuse of veterinary drugs in fish and shrimp farming poses escalating risks to public health, trade and the environment.

The warning comes amid intensifying aquaculture for shrimp, salmon, trout, tilapia, catfish and other finfish, where disease pressure is high and farm systems increasingly rely on medical interventions. 

Although many aquatic diseases stem from viruses, parasites, fungi or multifactorial stressors rather than bacteria, antibiotics remain widely used, often inappropriately, leading to antimicrobial resistance and persistent drug residues in exported products.

In the first ten months of 2025, the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) recorded 26 notifications involving prohibited substances or residues exceeding maximum limits in seafood. 

This follows a 50% increase in alerts in 2024 compared to 2023, signalling intensified regulatory scrutiny and a tightening compliance landscape for exporters.

Strict EU rules and complex compliance requirements

The European Union restricts the use of several veterinary drugs under Regulations 37/2010 and 470/2018, which ban chloramphenicol and nitrofurans, antibiotics reserved exclusively for human medicine. 

Regulation 2019/1871 further prohibits carcinogenic triphenylmethane dyes, such as malachite green and crystal violet, which continue to appear in RASFF reports.

Other antibiotics, including quinolones, tetracyclines, amphenicols and sulfonamides, remain permissible but only under veterinary supervision and with prescribed withdrawal periods. 

For substances without maximum residue limits (MRLs), notably nitrofuran metabolites, chloramphenicol and malachite green, the EU enforces reference points for action (RPAs), the lowest validated concentrations detectable by laboratory analysis.

Producers must therefore manage a complex compliance environment where even trace findings can render shipments non-compliant. 

Some residues may also originate from non-antibiotic sources: for example, SEM, a nitrofuran metabolite, naturally occurs in foods like shellfish and seaweed, while crystal violet contamination can come from everyday items such as paper towels, gloves or ballpoint pens used in processing facilities.

Substances of concern

RASFF notifications since 2022 have most frequently cited triphenylmethane dyes, nitrofuran metabolites, amphenicols, quinolones, sulfonamides and tetracyclines. 

A 2020 study found these classes to be the most commonly used across major aquaculture-producing countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

SGS noted that maintaining market access requires continuous monitoring of these high-risk compounds. 

“Producers must be vigilant in monitoring and controlling these residues to avoid regulatory breaches and ensure continued market access,” the company said.

SGS expands testing support

To help exporters navigate increasingly stringent regulations, SGS is providing expanded analytical capabilities across its global laboratory network. 

Using accredited LC-MS/MS methods, the company tests seafood for a wide spectrum of antibiotic and drug residues either within Europe or before shipment from key producing regions in Asia and Latin America.

“Our accredited laboratories use advanced LC-MSMS techniques to test for antibiotic and other drug residues in seafood, ensuring full compliance with EU and US regulations,” SGS stated. 

The company added that its services include scientific expertise, validated methods, and regulatory interpretation to help businesses confidently meet international safety standards.

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