Lifting Restrictions on Japanese Fish Imports to Russia Negotiated
Food safety & handling Economics Sustainability Environment
by Lucy Towers
RUSSIA and JAPAN - Representatives of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery met in Tokyo, Japan, to discuss lifting temporary restrictions on the import of fish and sea products to Russia from Japan.
The restricton was imposed following the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station.
The Russian delegation was headed by N.A. Vlasov, Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor and the Japanese delegation was headed by Counsellor of the Fisheries Policy Planning Department, Fishery Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery of Japan.
The following issues were discussed:
radiation situation in Japan after the accident at Fukushima
measures taken for ensuring safety of fish and sea products intended for both overseas and national supplies
results of fish product monitoring carried out by Japanese authorities (test of products for strontium, caesium and iodine)
expansion of export of products from Russia to Japan and their certification.
During the negotiations, the Japanese party made a presentation on said issues as well as provided materials on examination of the radiation situation dynamics in the country after the accident at the Nuclear Power Station in the Fukushima municipality, particularly, with the reference to fish and sea products of fisheries and aquaculture.
In addition, the discussion was focused on the inclusion of new Japanese fish processing plants wishing to export their products to the Russian Federation in the CU Register of third countries. The Russian party clarified the procedure for the agreement of the inclusion of a plant in the above mentioned Register between the CU member countries, and the Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor informed the Japanese competent authorities that Russia was going to access WTO in the nearest future. Russian export to Japan was also discussed.
The delegations agreed to develop further cooperation in the field of animal product safety.
Japan is going to send to Rosselkhoznadzor the missing information required for taking the appropriate decision on the revision of temporary restrictions imposed on 242 Japanese plants located in the accident-affected municipalities, and animal health requirements to other types of products intended for export from Russia to Japan and the procedure for the preparation of the required documents at import to Japan.
A regular meeting between the representatives of Russian and Japanese competent authorities is scheduled in Moscow, this year, after Rosselkhoznadzor receives all necessary documents concerning lifting of the restrictions imposed due to the accident.
Lucy Towers
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