Russian vets introducing temporary restrictions for importation of fish, fish products and non-finfish products from Estonian, Indonesian, American and Faroese plants

More specifically, according to the Service's Directive No. FS-AS-4/12830 dated from 15 October 2010, seafood importation from Estonia, Indonesia, USA and Faroe Islands onto the territory of Russian Federation is temporarily restricted as of 1 November 2010.

In particular, due to discovery during monitoring tests, of forbidden and harmful ingredients in fish products coming from the countries mentioned above the following plants have been forbidden to export their products to Russia.

1. Estonia - plant EST 523 (mercury in shrimps);

2. Indonesia - plant RR.B-02902 (mercury in shrimps);

3. USA - plant No. 3026057 (mercury in cod);

4. Faroe Islands - plant FO 147 (excessive volume of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms in trout).

In the event of products shipped before 1st of November 2010 the procedure of products clearance shall be performed in accordance with the existing rules. Regional offices of Rosselkhoznadzor shall take samples from each product lot to conduct laboratory tests for forbidden and harmful components according to the directive of Rosselkhoznadzor No.FS-NV-2/9959 dated 14 September 2009.