Malaysian frozen seafood products have got the permission to export it to the European Union after months of suspension. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai informed that the authority has got he clearance from the EU and now the seafood producers of Malaysia can resume their exports to the EU. The EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has approved frozen seafood products from five Malaysian companies and four farms after a visit which ended on March 12.
According to the information the FVO will next check on live sea catches. It is told that the decision comes some 10 months after the Government suspended exports of seafood products to the EU, which had threatened a total ban after random checks on nine Malaysian companies exporting fishery products revealed poor health standards and practices. Liow said it is pleasure that the FVO has cleared all the doubts and has readmitted Malaysia into the EU import list.
Liow also informed that the approval process would normally take six weeks, but his ministry would expedite the process. He added that they will get it done as soon as possible. It is learnt that the nine companies accounted for about RM100mil worth of exports to the EU annually. There are in total 15 exporters in frozen seafood industry in Malaysia which is believed to be worth about RM600mil annually.
