Is MPEDA a public authority under the RTI Act? Can it be compelled to disclose information?

Yes. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body established under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972. It is substantially funded by the Central Government and exercises regulatory powers over the registration of aquaculture farms, certification of hatcheries, and the promotion and development of marine products exports. MPEDA is therefore a 'public authority' under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 — an authority established by a statute of Parliament and substantially financed by the Central Government. This means it is obligated to respond to RTI applications within 30 days (Section 7(1)), maintain and disclose records proactively under Section 4, and provide access to information held by it in the course of its regulatory and developmental functions.

MPEDA rejected my aquaculture farm registration or hatchery certification application. Can RTI help me understand why?

RTI is a highly effective tool in this situation. You can ask for the specific eligibility criteria and technical standards applied to your application, a copy of any inspection report or deficiency memo generated during the evaluation, the officer's written reasons for rejection, and whether any appeal or review mechanism exists within MPEDA. MPEDA is required under Section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act to publish reasons for administrative decisions affecting individuals. If it has not communicated clear reasons, an RTI application citing that provision — combined with a request for the inspection report — often prompts a substantive response. If MPEDA refuses on grounds that no such document exists, that refusal itself becomes useful in an appeal to the First Appellate Authority or the Central Information Commission (CIC).

My shrimp export consignment was rejected by EU RASFF or US FDA due to antibiotic residue. Can I use RTI to find out whether MPEDA was aware of the contamination risk in my region?

Yes, and this is one of the most practically useful applications of RTI to MPEDA. You can ask for MPEDA's internal advisories and circulars about antibiotic residue risks (chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, oxytetracycline) issued to farmers and exporters in your state in the period before your rejection. If MPEDA had received RASFF alerts about similar rejections from the same growing region and failed to notify farmers in time, that information is relevant both to your financial claim against MPEDA and to any consumer protection proceedings. You can also ask for MPEDA's records on the Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) under the EU's requirements — specifically whether your growing area was covered and whether water/shrimp samples from your area were tested and cleared before the affected crop cycle. This will help you establish whether MPEDA's oversight was adequate or whether there was an administrative failure.

Can I get information about which exporters or processors received MPEDA development scheme subsidies?

Information about scheme disbursements at an aggregate level — total amount disbursed, number of beneficiaries by state, budget utilisation — is routinely disclosable and MPEDA should provide it. However, the names and financial details of individual private beneficiaries may be withheld under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act (personal information with no clear public interest in disclosure) or Section 8(1)(d) (commercial confidence of the beneficiary). To improve your chances: ask for aggregate data first — state-wise counts, total amounts, category of beneficiaries (small-scale fisher / processor / exporter). If you have a specific public interest reason for needing individual names (e.g., you are investigating whether scheme funds were diverted to ineligible parties), state that public interest clearly in your application; the CPIO and CIC can weigh that against the privacy interest. Fraud-related information — how many cases of misutilisation were identified and what recovery was initiated — is a governance fact that does not attract Section 8(1)(j) protection.

What should I do if MPEDA does not respond within 30 days, or gives an incomplete response?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at MPEDA within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address the appeal to the senior officer designated as FAA at MPEDA (typically the Head of the Administration or the Director General). If the FAA does not respond within 30 days of the appeal, or if the response remains unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. MPEDA is a Central Government statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC can direct MPEDA to provide the information and impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO for unjustified delay or refusal under Section 20 of the RTI Act.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with MPEDA for Aquaculture Registration, Export Rejections, and Scheme Fund Utilisation

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How to File RTI with MPEDA for Aquaculture Registration, Export Rejections, and Scheme Fund Utilisation

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to obtain aquaculture farm registration criteria, EU and US export rejection records, shrimp hatchery certification data, development scheme fund disbursement details, and fish meal quality certification standards. Essential reading for fishing communities, shrimp farmers, and seafood exporters.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Commerce and Industry

Address RTI ToCPIO, MPEDA, MPEDA House, Panampilly Avenue, Kochi – 682036

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body established under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972, and functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its mandate covers the promotion and development of the marine products export sector — encompassing shrimp aquaculture, finfish, cephalopods, seaweed, and processed seafood — through regulatory oversight of farm registration and hatchery certification, quality assurance functions, export market development, and the administration of developmental schemes for fishing communities, farmers, and exporters. MPEDA is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, established by an Act of Parliament and substantially financed by the Central Government, and is therefore fully subject to RTI obligations.

For fishing communities, shrimp farmers, hatchery operators, and seafood exporters, RTI to MPEDA is a practical lever to understand the standards they are regulated by, to track the fate of export consignments that faced international rejection, and to verify whether public scheme funds are reaching the communities they are intended to serve.

What MPEDA Holds and Why It Matters

MPEDA sits at the intersection of regulatory control and export promotion for India's marine products sector — one of the country's most important agricultural export earners. This dual role means MPEDA holds substantial regulatory records that are material to the livelihoods of millions of people involved in coastal aquaculture and the seafood trade.

Aquaculture farm registration: MPEDA registers aquaculture farms under the Act and its regulations, prescribing technical standards for pond design, water quality, stocking density, and record-keeping. A farmer whose registration is refused or whose renewal is delayed loses access to export markets. RTI can compel MPEDA to disclose the precise criteria applied and the reasons for any adverse decision — information that is routinely not communicated proactively.

Export rejection data: EU RASFF alerts and US FDA detention orders for Indian marine products — particularly shrimp — constitute some of the most commercially damaging outcomes for exporters. MPEDA receives this data directly from importing country authorities and issues corrective advisories to the sector. When farmers and small exporters are not notified in time about known contamination risks in specific growing regions, RTI can expose whether MPEDA fulfilled its advisory obligation.

Hatchery certification: The quality of seed (post-larvae) from certified hatcheries is foundational to disease-free shrimp farming. RTI on hatchery certification records helps farmers verify whether the hatchery supplying them is genuinely certified, what biosecurity standards were assessed, and whether any certification was suspended due to disease alerts — information that is rarely publicised but directly affects crop outcomes.

Development schemes: MPEDA administers subsidy schemes for processing unit upgrades, fishing vessel support, and aquaculture development. RTI on scheme fund utilisation — total budgets, actual disbursements, and beneficiary counts by state — allows farmers and civil society organisations to verify whether public money is reaching grassroots beneficiaries or being concentrated among large exporters.

Key Categories of Information Available Through RTI

The following table summarises what MPEDA holds and what RTI can realistically obtain:

Information Category	Likely Disclosable	Likely Withheld
Aquaculture farm registration criteria and documentation requirements	Yes — regulatory standards are public governance documents	No exemption applies
State-wise count of registered farms and hatcheries	Yes — aggregate regulatory data	Individual farm addresses if considered personal information
EU RASFF and US FDA rejection data (aggregate by product and reason)	Yes — MPEDA receives this data in its regulatory capacity	Specific buyer/importer details if commercially sensitive
MPEDA advisories and circulars issued to exporters	Yes — circulars are governance documents	Internal deliberation notes preceding circular issuance
Hatchery certification standards and current list of certified hatcheries	Yes — certified list is public regulatory data	Third-party inspection reports about individual hatcheries
Scheme-wise budget allocation, disbursement, and beneficiary count	Yes — fund utilisation is a public governance fact	Individual beneficiary names and amounts (Section 8(1)(j) risk)
Fraud/misutilisation cases identified in schemes and recovery initiated	Yes — aggregate misutilisation data is disclosable	Names of individuals under ongoing investigation (Section 8(1)(h))
Fish meal and fish oil quality certification standards	Yes — quality standards are regulatory norms	Individual exporter inspection results (third-party privacy)

How to File RTI with MPEDA

MPEDA is a Central Government statutory body. RTI applications are filed at rtionline.gov.in:

Go to rtionline.gov.in and select Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the Ministry, then select Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) from the public authority list.
In the application text, state your request clearly — identify the specific category of information (registration criteria, rejection data, scheme disbursement, etc.) and the time period for which data is sought. Being specific significantly improves response quality.
Pay ₹10 online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. Applicants holding a valid BPL card are exempt from the fee — select the BPL option and attach a self-attested copy of your BPL card.
Submit and record the unique registration number generated. Use this number to track the status of your application on the same portal.

Postal filing: If you prefer to file by post, address your application to the CPIO, MPEDA, MPEDA House, Panampilly Avenue, Kochi – 682036, with a crossed demand draft or Indian Postal Order for ₹10 drawn in favour of "MPEDA" and payable at Kochi.

Practical tip: MPEDA's head office is in Kochi, but it has regional offices across major fishing states (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha). If your query relates to farm registrations or scheme disbursements in a specific state, the CPIO at the head office in Kochi remains the correct point of filing for RTI — regional offices are field units, not separate public authorities for RTI purposes.

Specific Information Requests — What to Ask For

Aquaculture Farm Registration and Hatchery Certification

When seeking information on registration or certification, be precise about the species and the time period:

Complete eligibility criteria and documentation checklist for registration of shrimp / finfish / other aquaculture farms — including any revision notified in the last three years, with circular numbers and dates
Number of farms registered in your state broken down by year for the last three financial years
Technical standards for shrimp hatchery certification — including biosecurity protocols, disease-free zone requirements, and water quality norms — as currently applicable
Whether certification of any hatchery in your state has been suspended or cancelled in the last two years, and the number of such actions

Export Rejection Data and Advisories

For exporters and farmers dealing with international market access issues:

RASFF alerts received from EU authorities regarding Indian shrimp/marine product consignments in the last three financial years — total count by product type and rejection reason
US FDA detention or import alert actions against Indian marine products in the last three financial years — count by product and reason
Text of all MPEDA circulars and advisories issued to the sector in response to the above rejections — advisory numbers, dates, and the corrective actions directed

Scheme Fund Utilisation

For fishing community organisations and advocates seeking accountability:

List of all development/subsidy schemes currently administered by MPEDA
Scheme-wise: total budget allocated, total disbursed, and total beneficiaries in each of the last three financial years — state-wise breakdown where available
Number of cases of fraudulent or ineligible utilisation identified under each scheme and the amount of recovery initiated, broken down by state

Fish Meal and Fish Oil Quality Standards

Quality standards prescribed by MPEDA for fish meal and fish oil meant for export — including TVN limits, moisture content, microbiological parameters, and labelling requirements
Number of fish meal/fish oil export consignments inspected and number found non-conforming in the last two financial years

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If MPEDA does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at MPEDA within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. MPEDA is a Central Government statutory body established under an Act of Parliament — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Penalty provision: Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, the CIC may impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO for unjustified delay or refusal. If MPEDA has failed to respond on time or has refused without a lawful exemption, cite this provision in your Second Appeal to underscore the consequences of non-compliance.

Partial disclosure situations: MPEDA may respond that certain information relates to third parties (individual exporters or hatchery owners) and seek their objection under Section 11. This is a legitimate step for genuinely commercial-in-confidence data. However, aggregate statistics — total rejections, total disbursements, total certifications — do not attract third-party notification requirements. If MPEDA uses the Section 11 process to delay disclosing plainly aggregate data, contest this in your First Appeal as procedural misuse.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA),
MPEDA House, Panampilly Avenue,
Kochi – 682036

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Aquaculture Farm Registration, Export Rejection Records, Hatchery Certification, Scheme Disbursement, and Fish Meal Quality Certification

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and request the following information:

1. Aquaculture Farm Registration Criteria
   (a) The complete eligibility criteria, technical specifications, and documentation requirements currently prescribed by MPEDA for registration of aquaculture farms (shrimp, finfish, and other species) under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972, and any applicable MPEDA regulation or circular — including minimum pond/farm area, water quality parameters, species permitted, and record-keeping obligations.
   (b) Whether MPEDA has revised these criteria at any time in the last three years — and if so, the revised criteria, the date of revision, and the circular or order number.
   (c) The total number of aquaculture farms registered with MPEDA as on the most recent available date, broken down by state and by species (shrimp, finfish, seaweed, others).

2. Export Rejection Records — EU RASFF and US FDA
   (a) The total number of consignments of Indian marine products rejected or detained by European Union authorities and reported through the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in each of the last three financial years for which data is available — broken down by species/product type and primary reason for rejection (e.g., antibiotic residues, microbiological contamination, heavy metals, mislabelling).
   (b) The total number of Indian marine product consignments refused entry or detained by US FDA under Import Alert or Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE) in each of the last three financial years — broken down by species/product type and reason.
   (c) Whether MPEDA has issued any advisory, circular, or corrective-action directive to registered exporters or processors in response to the above rejections — and if so, the advisory number(s), date(s), and subject matter.

3. Shrimp Hatchery Certification — Standards and Current Status
   (a) The technical standards, biosecurity norms, disease-free certification criteria, and documentation requirements prescribed by MPEDA for certification of shrimp hatcheries — including the species covered (Litopenaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, and others).
   (b) The total number of shrimp hatcheries currently certified/registered with MPEDA as on the most recent available date, broken down by state.
   (c) Whether any shrimp hatchery certification has been suspended or cancelled by MPEDA in the last two financial years — and if so, the number of such suspensions/cancellations, the states involved, and the primary grounds (without disclosing hatchery names if considered third-party personal information under Section 8(1)(j)).

4. Development Scheme Fund Utilisation
   (a) The names and brief descriptions of all development schemes, subsidy programmes, and financial assistance schemes administered by MPEDA as on the date of this application — including schemes for shrimp farmers, small-scale fishers, processing unit upgrades, and export infrastructure development.
   (b) For each such scheme: the total budget allocated, total amount disbursed, and total number of beneficiaries in each of the last three financial years for which data is available — broken down by state where such disaggregated data is maintained.
   (c) Whether any beneficiary under a MPEDA development scheme has been found to have received funds fraudulently or in violation of scheme conditions — and if so, the number of such cases identified and the recovery action initiated, without disclosing individual names.

5. Fish Meal and Fish Oil Quality Certification
   (a) The quality standards, moisture content limits, TVN (Total Volatile Nitrogen) limits, microbiological standards, and labelling requirements prescribed by MPEDA for fish meal and fish oil intended for export — including references to applicable BIS or international standards.
   (b) Whether MPEDA conducts inspection and quality certification of fish meal/fish oil at the point of export — and if so, the number of consignments inspected and the number rejected or held for non-conformance in the last two financial years.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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