Published May 18, 2009

EU lets M'sian seafood firms resume trade

Suspension ends as they comply with safety standards

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Six Malaysian shrimp and fish exporters resumed trading with the European Union (EU) on Friday after complying with European safety standards that ended a one-year suspension of their business.

The Health Ministry said six processors of fishery products were restarting trade with the EU as a 'first step to enable the resumption of exports'. Prior to the suspension, 46 companies sent seafood to Europe worth 102 million euros (S$203 million) in 2007, according to EU statistics.

It wasn't clear why only six companies were cleared, or what per cent of exports they accounted for.

Malaysia says the EU is the largest importer of the country's seafood.

Malaysia voluntarily stopped shipping seafood to the EU last June to avoid being banned after European inspectors found that processors and exporters failed to meet several EU health regulations, including hygiene on vessels and concerns over ice and testing fish.

Over the past year, EU and Malaysian officials worked together to inspect and monitor farms and processors to make sure they met hygiene and other requirements.

'We are happy to resume trade with Malaysia in fisheries products. . . This will enable us to meet consumer demand in the EU market,' said Vincent Piket, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Malaysia, in a statement.



A ministry official, who declined to be named citing protocol, said exporters involved in high-sea fishing may have to wait until next year to get clearance. He could not immediately give further details. -- AP