August 10, 2007

Russia lifts ban on Vietnamese seafood

Russia will remove its ban on Vietnam's seafood exports, the Russian Farm Produce Inspection Agency (Rosselkhoznazdor) said on August 7.

The agency said 11 Vietnamese exporters met Russian standards on hygiene and food safety.

In March, Russian authorities discover antibiotics on Vietnamese seafood which prompted the ban on April 25.

Prior to the ban, Vietnam's seafood processors were successful in penetrating Russian seafood market, as shipments increased by 16 times in the past three years.

Exports to Russia accounted for 11.2 percent of Vietnam's total seafood exports, generating total revenue of US$126.3 million last year.

The ban has limited Vietnam's seafood exports to Russia by only 2 percent in the first five months of the year.