Russian vets signed memorandum with EU Commission on safety of Russia's seafood imports

On 18 December 2008 head of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor Sergey Dankvert and deputy director-general of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection Ms. Paola Testori Coggi signed a traditional memorandum on safety of seafood shipments to Russia, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/).

In particular, the memorandum stipulates finfish and other aquatic products meant for exportation to Russia should originate from fishing and processing companies and coldstores approved by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor. These businesses shall be enlisted by Rosselkhoznadzor as approved subject to guarantees of their compliance with the Russian veterinary and hygiene standards as provided by the competent body of the supplying country. The businesses are regarded included into the list if Rosselkhoznadzor has got no claims to the applicant within 30 days after getting the renewed list. The approved lists shall come into force within two weeks, during which the Russian vets will accordingly notify its veterinary offices working at border checkpoints.

Since the memorandum has been signed seafood importation to Russia will be carried out only from enlisted companies without intermediary storage at the premises of other companies and breaking into several lots after a final certification of the whole consignment. The competent body in the supplying country guarantees the products' compliance with the Russian standards.

On the same day of 18 December 2008 the Russian vets also signed memos with veterinary bodies of Bulgaria, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.