Sprats in oil. (Photo Credit: SpecialAdviser/CC BY-SA 3.0)
LATVIATuesday, June 02, 2015, 19:00 (GMT + 9)
Latvian canned fish import has been banned by Russian authorities whereas 11 fish processing companies from this EU country have been authorized by the Republic of China to begin exports of fishery products to this Asian market.
Media sources consulted by FIS.com reported that the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) took the decision to prohibit these imports after reportedly finding public health shortcomings in Estonian and Latvian fish processing plants.
Nevertheless, in the Estonian Association of Fisheries’ viewpoint, the real reason for the ban that has been imposed by Russia is that Estonian products have become very popular in Russia.
For her part, Rosselkhoznadzor spokesperson Yulia Trofimova clarified that tinned and preserved fish was not included in the list of products affected by the trade restrictions imposed by Russia on several Western markets until August 2015, the Baltic Business News reported.
The commercial ban implemented by Russia as retaliation includes fresh, frozen and refrigerated fish produced in Estonia and Latvia but not tinned food.
Latvian authorities informed that China’s decision was taken following Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs' visit in Shanghai.
As it has been reported, State Food and Veterinary Service Director Maris Balodis previously indicated that every company that wants to export its products to China must be included in China's relevant register of entities.
As it has been reported, State Food and Veterinary Service Director Maris Balodis previously indicated that every company that wants to export its products to China must be included in China's relevant register of entities.