Russian vet authority specifying dates for switching to importation from certified fish plants
Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has specified dates of mutual checks of foreign plants willing to export seafood to Russia and Russian seafood exporters and informed about the results of the checks which have been already conducted as per early July 2007, a spokesman told https://www.fishnet.ru/ (click on English version or go direct to http://www.fishnet-russia.com/).
Switch to shipments only from certified companies for each particular country will be carried out after the approved supplier lists will have been made by Rosselkhoznadzor. For instance, the system is already in force for those countries where the list of approved companies has already been issued. As per early July 2007 any importation of seafood from Vietnam has been suspended by Rosselkhoznadzor.
Vietnam
As per early July 2007 seafood shipments from Vietnam have been suspended until the faults discovered during the vet checks will be eliminated and Rosselkhoznadzor will make the list of approved companies.
On 8 June 2007 Vietnam's National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (abridged to NAFIQAVED, a body working under the nation's Ministry of Fisheries) which is in charge of the veterinary control for aquatic animals informed Rosselkhoznadzor that all the faults discovered in the course of checks on 10-28 March 2007 would be eliminated by 15 June 2007. The Russian veterinary inspectors checked 28 Vietnamese companies, including 25 fish processing plants. On 19 June 2007 Rosselkhoznadzor informed NAFIQAVED that it was ready to visit Vietnam for a revision check.
China
As per early July the old system has been in force until the end of the check.
Inspection of Chinese fish processing companies is to take place in the end of July 2007. In September later this year representatives of the Chinese State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine will come to Russia to check Russian seafood exporters.
Iceland
The country is allowed to supply seafood to Russia from approved companies only.
In the course of two checks Rosselkhoznadzor inspected 26 companies and 22 vessels and certified 20 companies and 20 vessels for export to the Russian Federation. (See the full list in the respective article in this issue of RFR or on the site http://www.fishnet-russia.com/.)
Norway
The country is allowed to supply seafood to Russia from approved companies only.
In the course of four checks Rosselkhoznadzor inspected 30 companies and 10 of them were approved for export to Russia. On 11-13 June 2007 the mutual working group met in Bergen for the first time to discuss issues of seafood export/import safety and conservation of aquatic stocks.
Chile
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
The Russian vets have checked nine Chilean companies, one laboratory and seven vessels. The check has been finished recently; the materials of the check are being analyzed.
The approval lists are expected in the near future.
Uruguay
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
The Russian vets have checked 4 companies and 7 vessels. Just like Chile, the check has been finished recently; the materials of the check are being analyzed.
The approval lists are expected in the near future.
Latvia
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
As per early July 2007 the Russian vets were checking seafood plants in Latvia.
Japan
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
In late June 2007 the Japanese and the Russian sides held preliminary talks on certification of Japanese fish processing companies exporting seafood to Russia.
South Korea
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
Members of the Russian delegation and the date of the vet check were under discussion in early July 2007.
Thailand
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
The talks on the Russian checks of Thai fish processing plants are to take place in Moscow in early July current.
Argentina
As per early July the old system has been in force pending the making of the companies' approval list.
The sides are discussing dates and conditions of the veterinary checks of seafood processors.