MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU reopens market for Uruguayan fisheries exports

Uruguayan fisheries exports to the European Union have officially resumed this week after having overcome sanitary observations interposed at the beginning of the year, reported the country's Fisheries Department (DINARA) director Daniel Montiel.

Precisely this Monday began the loading of 100 tons of fish to the EU which last year purchased 80 million US dollars in Uruguayan fish products. The country's annual fisheries exports are in the range of 200 million US dollars. Last February EU suspended all imports of Uruguayan fisheries alleging sanitary deficiencies in Uruguayan fish processing plants and conditions in several vessels belonging to nine local companies. In May an EU sanitary mission inspected Uruguayan processing plants and expressed conformity with the reforms and changes implemented, opening the way for the resumption of shipments. The Uruguayan fishing fleet has 110 registered vessels.