Russian vets calmed down importers' concerns over introduction of seafood import restrictions from Chinese plants

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has given more time for both Russian seafood importers and their Chinese partners to prepare for the new regime of importation from approved plants only, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to the Service.

More specifically, as per close to mid-June 2009 the market players were concerned that the lists of approved Chinese plants had not yet been published. The thing is that very recently free seafood importation from the Chinese plants to the Russian Federation was allowed only until 1 July 2009 and afterwards importation would have been allowed only from approved plants. According to one importer, the Chinese plants say that the inspections were carried out one month ago.

Eventually the market could sigh with relief as at the moment of going to press the news has come that the deadline for switch to approved plants has been shifted to 1 September 2009.