For Malaysian seafood exporters it is good news as the export of seafood products from Malaysia to Europe is expected to resume by next month. Seafood products generate billions of ringgit annually and are considered as the second largest edible item exported by Malaysia. Ambassador and head of delegation of the European Commission in Malaysia, Vincent Piket, said in an effort to enable the trade to resume, inspectors from the EU Food and Veterinary Office carried out a review mission earlier this month.
According to him the European Union (EU) worked in close collaboration with Malaysia’s Health Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Ministry and Malaysian Fisheries Development Board to implement measures to address the food safety management and hygiene issues to comply with the EU’s requirements.
He added that the final results of the investigation are not yet made public but it is expected a good one with the improvements introduced by the Malaysian authorities and the seafood industry, a significant part of the seafood trade can resume by end of May. In June 2008, the Malaysian government voluntarily made a decision to temporarily freeze exports of aquaculture products to the EU. This decision was taken following findings which revealed that there were shortcomings along the supply chain compromising food safety standards.
