September 12, 2012

India's health authorities have allowed frozen salmon imports from Chile to be certified with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca).

The decision was announced by the Indian government in a statement to Sernapesca, channeled through the Embassy of Chile in New Delhi.

According to the head of Sernapesca, Juan Luis Ansoleaga, the measure taken by the Indian administration "represents a strong signal of trust in the certification of fishery products for export implemented by Sernapesca."

Furthermore, he emphasised that "it opens enormous opportunities for such shipments from Chile, considering that this is a market of more than 1,200 million people."

Last August, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Alfredo Moreno, announced that the country would improve its trade access to the Indian market by expanding from 178 to more than 1,100 the number of products that could be exported to the Asian country with tariff preferences.

Some of these products are fishmeal, cod and salmon.

"We have a strong interest in deepening our trade ties with Asia to further diversify our trade, creating a favourable environment for investment and trade, and expanding opportunities for cooperation in areas such as information technology, oceanography, science and technology, agriculture and food processing and engineering and infrastructure, among others," Moreno added.