June 12, 2008

Malaysian frozen seafood firms ask for EU export ban delay
  
 

Malaysia's frozen seafood industry has requested the EU to delay a ban on its exports, which do not meet EU health standards.

The EU is expected to impose a ban on June 18, a move that would deal a harsh blow to the Malaysian seafood firms as their top markets are EU member states.

With EU as a major market, the ban would result in many leaving the business, according to Ch'ng Chin Hooi, chairman of the Malaysian Frozen Foods Processor Association.

"What we want is for the EU to increase the grace period for companies and fishermen here to meet the higher health standard," he said.

Ch'ng said the Malaysian government should come down hard on industry players who failed to adhere to food safety regulations so that the whole industry do not have to pay the penalty for the faults of a few.

While admitting that some facilities do not meet EU standards, Ch'ng asserted that most of his association's 20 food-processing members meet EU standards and that they are planning to get EU importers to help lobby against the ban.