Russian vets holding talks with Indian veterinary authority on seafood export to Russia

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has conducted talks with the Indian Embassy on seafood shipments to Russia, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to the Service.

At the talks the Russian side has reminded the Indian colleagues that, according to the Administrative regulation of Rosselkhoznadzor's functioning as issuer of permits for seafood importation into Russia and exportation from Russia, as well as for transit of supervised and quarantine products via its territory, as of 1 January 2008 importation of seafood to the Russian territory from foreign countries is allowed only from plants approved by Rosselkhoznadzor.

At present, none of Indian plants is approved for seafood export to Russia. In the meantime, taking into account measures taken by Indian competent bodies in the sphere of safety of seafood shipped to Russia, the Russian vets have allowed until 1 July 2009 seafood shipments to Russia from the plants which were approved in 2008. The Russian side has sent for consideration to India a draft protocol on cooperation between Rosselkhoznadzor and the Fisheries Department of India's Ministry of Agriculture as well as a veterinary certificate for food fish, shellfish and finfish products and final products exported from India to Russia. The Indian side has offered specialists from Rosselkhoznadzor to visit and check Indian fish processing plants.