After the European Union banned the synthetic antioxidant Ethoxyquin, more and more countries began to upgrade their standards, including China.

Following the European Union, some other countries are phasing out ethoxyquin, James Frank, managing director of Peruvian fishmeal exporter MSICeres, said on the IFFO seminar on November 29. "Fish meal treated with quinoline is no longer accepted in more and more countries, and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) are becoming alternative antioxidant options. From the local market in Peru to the export market, the fish meal used in shrimp feed is essentially BHT-treated."

"At present, Peruvian fishmeal exports to Europe, Canada, the United States and Australia are now 100% quinoline-free. Companies in other European countries, such as the United Kingdom and Norway, have also stopped using quinoline. A lot of countries are using BHT and BHA as an alternative, there is a growing demand for BHT fishmeal in Vietnam, and soon we will see China follow suit." "Said Frank.

In August 2022, the European Commission adopted Regulation No. 2022/1375 to stop the reauthorization of ethoxyquin in all animal species and categories, which means that cultured aquatic products imported to the EU from China and other third parties may not be fed with ethoxyquin.

Frank said Chinese importers have a decision to make, and they are increasingly sourcing BHT-processed fishmeal from Peru, with this batch usually directed to other countries. There are other natural antioxidant alternatives on the market, such as rosemary extract, but they have been rejected by Chinese importers as too expensive, less effective and difficult to process.

According to IFFO, natural antioxidants are widely used in European countries and increasingly popular in North America, so their capacity is expanding. If the price of natural antioxidants continues to fall, the Chinese market may also be receptive.

Frank said the International Maritime Organization (IMO) also adjusted shipping standards for natural antioxidants, but did not lower the concentration requirements for a group of synthetic antioxidants, such as ethoxyquin.

"For long-distance shipping from the Americas to China, the IMO requires that the minimum concentration of quinoline and BHT be maintained at 150ppm if there is no transshipment, congestion, overturning, cancellation, etc. So in theory, this also makes natural antioxidants more attractive, because less is needed and therefore less expensive." "Said Frank.