December 1, 2006

 

Russia bans Estonian fish imports
 

 

Russia has imposed an informal ban on Estonia's fish last week, after rejecting stocks being transported through customs, citing concerns about the certification of the marine products.

 

This is expected to have a major impact on the country's 500 million kroons (EUR 32 million) a year industry and would deal a mortal blow to many small and medium sized businesses.

 

Valdur Noormagi, spokesman for the Estonian Association of Fisheries, said any concerns Russia might have with Estonia's certification process were ill-founded adding that Russian inspectors made a detailed tour of Estonia only four weeks ago, but did not express concern at that time.

 

Russia's ban has come at a season when the best hauls are to be made. Estonia exports its fish to Russia and Ukraine.

 

With many border checkpoints closed to marine imports, fish can only be transported through small border points in Finland, Latvia, Belarus and Kaliningrad.

 

Meanwhile, the Estonian Veterinary and Food Board said it would raise the matter with European chief veterinary officials in Brussels.

 

Russia purchases approximately 60 percent of its imported fish from Baltic states.

 

The recent issue with Latvia had them agreeing to work out a common standard with Russia, only days before the fresh ban on imports was imposed.

 

Russia has expressed further concern about the safety of other products from EU nations, particularly Romania

and Bulgaria, which will join the EU in January.

 

Russia is having a similar dispute with Polish meat exports.