April 22, 2009

Malaysian seafood exports to the EU is expected to resume by next month, according to local exporters.

Seafood products generate billions of ringgit annually and are considered as the second largest edible item exported by Malaysia.

Vincent Piket, ambassador and head of delegation of the European Commission in Malaysia, said in an effort to enable the trade to resume, inspectors from the EU Food and Veterinary Office carried out a review mission earlier this month.

He said EU worked in close collaboration with Malaysia's Health Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry and Malaysian Fisheries Development Board to implement measures to address the food safety management and hygiene issues to comply with the EU's requirements.

He also said final results of the analysis are not yet available and hopes that a significant part of the seafood trade can resume by end of May, with the improvements introduced by the Malaysian authorities and the seafood industry.

In June 2008, the Malaysian government voluntarily made a decision to temporarily halt exports of aquaculture products to the EU. This decision was taken following findings which revealed that there were shortcomings along the supply chain compromising food safety standards.

The government suspended seafood exports to the EU to avoid being banned for allegedly failing to meet European health standards.

According to Piket, the EU is the largest importer of Malaysian seafood with 50 percent of Malaysian shrimps exported to the EU.

In 2007, Malaysia exported a total of MYR472 million (US$ 128.9 million) worth of seafood products to the EU.