Russian pollock exporters to submit health certificates

The Russian pollock exporters have been told to submit health certificates when exporting to China, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ (https://www.fishnet.ru/) with reference to Vladivostok-based Pollock Fishermen's Association.

More specifically, as of 1 January 2010 seafood imports from Russia to China should be accompanied by Health Certificates issued by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor). At present, the certificate is issued together with the veterinary certificate 5i. There is no problem if in the vet certificate the end buyer is the same as the real buyer. However, in most cases the buyer specified in the contract differs from the end receiver of products at the destination port and the certificate should be amended accordingly under the Chinese legislation.

As of 1 March 2010 such amendments have been introduced into the certificates only subject to resolution on seafood compliance with requirements of the Chinese documents to be signed by a representative of the Russian veterinary laboratory located in the port of product arrival in China (Qingdao). In order to get such a resolusion every participant of foreign trade should sign a contract on rendering paid services with the above mentioned laboratory.

The Russian fishermen brought the new requirement under fire because the veterinary authorities charge a lot of money for their services thus building a new administrative barrier for seafood trade on the international market.