KOCHI: A new administrative arrangement regarding the terms of shipping of fish and seafood products from India to the Russian Federation was signed between the Export Inspection Council (EIC) and the Federal Service of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation (FSVPS). The agreement is to ensure high level of food safety and quality control for shipment of seafood products from India to the Russian Federation.
Apart from ensuring a high level of food safety and quality control for shipments the other objective of the agreement is to define the terms of export for more than 45 Indian fish processing establishments. The agreement also details on the modalities of co-operation in the fields of quarantine and inspections, during the export and import of products processed from wild catch and aquaculture.
The agreement was signed by Ms Leena Nair, chairman MPEDA and NA Vlasov, deputy head of the FSVPS on July 28 in Moscow. In view of the signing of this protocol the proposed ban to be imposed by Russia on the exports of seafood from India has been withdrawn.
The document emphasises the authority of the EIC of India in administering the inspection and control system of India’s fish processing establishments and their recommendation and approvals for export to Russia.
The EIC and the FSVPS would continue the dialogue regarding increasing future shipments from India to Russia, of future inclusion of new establishments and products subject to the EIC’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance and control. An agreement was also reached on the need to create a bilateral (Indo-Russian) working group on sea product safety. A mechanism has also been detailed to resolve effectively issues arising/during the trade of fish and seafood products between India and Russia.
Source : The Economic Times