Russian vet authorities simplifying seafood importation to border areas

Customs clearance of seafood cargoes imported to Kamchatka has been simplified with the new amendments to the normative documents touching the customs clearance of the products subject to quarantine procedures coming into force as of 20 January 2009, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to Kamchatka customs.

More specifically, in order to import goods subject to phytosanitary control, it is now necessary to present a quarantine certificate instead of a state phytosanitary control report. At the same time, if importers do not intend shipping the products from the region of entry, presentation of a quarantine certificate to clear the cargo at customs is not mandatory. This stipulation is to considerably simplify seafood importation to Russia's border territories.

If the imported cargoes are to be shipped to other regions of the country, presentation of a quarantine certificate remains obligatory. Besides, if the customs discloses indications of misreporting in the product declaration, the customs has the right to conduct extra checks by any method stipulated by Article 15 of the Customs code. In this case the product safety may be confirmed by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporter country and accompanying each consignment of imported products subject to quarantine procedures.