February 11, 2010

Sabah seafood farm to export to EU soon

Another seafood farm in Sabah is expected to earn the EU certification soon, which will allow it to export its products to EU member countries, according to the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EC in Malaysia, Vincent Piket.

"We will issue the necessary certification once the farm fulfills the EU reguirements with regards to seafood hygiene standards," Piket said.

The EU banned fish exports from Sabah in April 2008 as manufacturers and farms did not comply with its standards and regulations.

Warisan Hikmat is the only seafood farm in Sabah with the EU certification at present and is allowed to export its white and tiger prawns to member countries.

On February 1, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin, who is also the state Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said the government was considering requiring all seafood farms and seafood product manufacturers to adopt standardised practices that meet EU requirements to satisfy global demand.

Hussin was also said that the measure is to ensure farms and manufacturers meet market expectations, in case the EU requirement becomes a global standard for export in future.

Piket added that the EU is imposing a stringent seafood hygiene import standard in order to protect public health and safety.