MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Russian officials inspect Mar del Plata fish plants

Russian inspectors visiting a fish processing plant<br>Photo Senasa

A delegation from Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Control Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) this month visited the South Buenos Aires Regional Centre of the National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA), and a number of fisheries plants and vessels of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires.

Russian technicians, along with SENASA personnel, inspected 26 plants and 2 factory vessels between 9 and 17 July for export authorisation purposes. SENASA and Rosselkhoznadzor authorities signed a fisheries cooperation agreement focuses on fish and aquaculture food security norm compliance and refers to both Argentine and Russian veterinary and sanitary controls and requirements. They also agreed to have Argentina present Russia with monthly updates on fish and aquaculture product and by-product shipments, informed SENASA. In June 2007, Russia unexpectedly suspended seafood product imports from various Argentine companies for not having been ratified nor authorised by Rosseljoznadzor. Russia received 17,790 tonnes of Argentine fisheries products during 2007, mainly of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi), hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) and squid pods (Illex argentinus), all valued at USD 26.8 million. In the first six months of 2008, SENASA registered 6,177 tonnes of exported fish and shellfish to Russia worth USD 10.7 million.(FIS)