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(KUALA LUMPUR) European Union inspectors have given the green light to Malaysian frozen seafood, 10 months after exports were suspended over health issues, an EU official said yesterday.
However, all EU member nations will have to agree to the report by the body's Food and Veterinary Office before exports can resume, the official said.
Malaysian seafood exports to the EU were banned last June after an inspection raised health concerns.
The Star daily said that EU officials have approved frozen seafood products from five Malaysian companies and four farms following a visit earlier this month and they will now inspect live sea catches.
'It looks good but it is not official and will not be official for some weeks,' the EU official said on condition of anonymity. 'Technically, it has not been approved yet as there is a chance that the recommendations of the experts and inspectors could be overturned.'
'The EU now has to review the report and present it and its recommendations to the member states, and only when they agree will it be approved. This could take up to six weeks.'
Malaysia's Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai told The Star that his ministry would try to help expedite the process.
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Malaysia's frozen seafood exports to the EU are worth about RM600 million ringgit (S$251 million) annually, the paper reported. -- AFP
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