February 15, 2006

Norway's salmon dispute with Russia continues

A meeting between Norwegian and Russian authorities in Moscow on Feb 13 to settle the dispute over Russia's import ban on Norwegian salmon failed to produce an immediate solution, reported local media.

However, Norwegian Fisheries Minister Helga Pedersen expressed satisfaction with the fact that the matter has been brought to a higher political level in Moscow, although she had hoped the meeting had produced a more concrete result.

The Russian veterinary authorities will conduct a new meeting with the Norwegian Food Inspectorate, making it the fourth meeting between the two countries

Russia banned all imports of fresh Norwegian salmon on Jan 1, claiming high levels of lead and cadmium in Norwegian farmed salmon. However, the Norwegian Food Inspectorate disputed this and further pointed out that importing countries like Japan and Singapore have never complained of abnormal levels of heavy metals in Norwegian salmon.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Feb 17 and they are expected to further discuss the issue.