Malaysian seafood exports slowly making its way into EU again

Less than half of Malaysian seafood exporters barred from selling to Europe in 2008 have complied with the rules and resumed exports, said the EU ambassador Vincent Piket.

Out of the 26 disallowed, only five are back on the list and another two in the process of being re-listed, Piket said. Since the ban, the industry had focused on ensuring the biggest exporters complied with EU health standards first.

"Part of the seafood exports has resumed, thanks to the assertive remedial measures taken by the Malaysian authorities," he said, adding that they are now in the second phase which involves the small exporters.

In June 2008, the Malaysian government voluntarily decided to temporarily freeze exports of aquaculture products to the EU after exporters failed to meet health standards.

In 2007, Malaysia shipped MYR472 million (US$138.7 million) worth of seafood products to the EU.

"Because the sanitary system is not complete and in compliance, many of them could not be relisted."

He has sent another letter to the Health Ministry, notifying the arrival of another inspection mission from the EU Food and Veterinary Office in April.

Seafood processors in Sabah have been appealing to the state government for help as they have been severely hit by the ban.

They have to depend on exports to Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Japan to make up for the loss. Furthermore, they fear that a delay in standards recognition would push EU importers to source from Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam instead.