Customs authority Rosselkhoznadzor has returned a significant quantity of salmon due to unknown reasons.
Hitch in the Salmonid Import: No Green Light From Rosselkhoznadzor
Smack dab at the Russian-Belarusian border in Pskov Oblast, a veterinary inspection conducted by Rosselkhoznadzor on a 700 kg consignment of salmonid fish from Belarus didn't pass muster.
The consignment, requiring temperature control and shunted via a vehicle lacking refrigeration equipment, fell short of both veterinary and sanitary rules. Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, reported the findings.
Not only did the goods lack proper veterinary certificates to confirm their safety and origin, but they also apparently violated the Eurasian Economic Union's (EAEU) technical regulation for fish and fish products. The disregard for labeling was staggering: there was no identifying information about the product name, country of origin, manufacturer, expiration date, or production date.
Here's a peek under the hood at what could've snagged this salmonid shipment:
- Border Halt: The non-compliant vet docs likely caused a frigid stop at the border, similar to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Mexico protocols that necessitate health certificates.
- Goods Gone Back: Authorities might've demanded re-export of the consignment to its origin, same as shipments bound for the US sans APHIS-endorsed certificates.
- Disease Mitigation: If infected disease risks surfaced, destruction or quarantine would've been in order. Lack of a vet certificate makes it impossible to verify compliance with EAEU's veterinary drug residue limits and pathogen testing.
- Legal Charges: Exporters might've faced fines for flouting veterinary controls under EAEU Customs Union regulations. Belarus-Russia might've been subject to bilateral agreements on disease prevention, potentially triggering sanctions.
In a perfect world, exporters would read up on specific EAEU regulations regarding aquaculture products, consult the EAEU Veterinary Services, or the Belarusian Food Safety Authority for clarity on harmonized requirements. Exporters should also ensure importers in the destination country (Belarus/Russia) secure an official import permit outlining exact requirements if standard rules are ambiguous.
- The lack of proper veterinary certificates, similar to USDA requirements, likely resulted in a halt at the Russian-Belarusian border, causing a delay in the salmonid shipment.
- Failure to comply with the EAEU's technical regulation for fish and fish products may have led to authorities demanding the re-export of the consignment back to its origin.
- In the event of infected disease risks, measures such as destruction or quarantine would be necessary, however, without a veterinary certificate, it is impossible to verify compliance with the EAEU's veterinary drug residue limits and pathogen testing.
- Exporters may face fines for flouting veterinary controls under EAEU Customs Union regulations and could be subject to bilateral agreements on disease prevention, potentially triggering sanctions.
- To ensure compliance with health-and-wellness lifestyle and food-and-drink guidelines, exporters should read up on EAEU regulations regarding aquaculture products, consult the EAEU Veterinary Services, or the Belarusian Food Safety Authority for clarity on harmonized requirements, and secure an official import permit from the importer in the destination country. This would help maintain a high standard of refrigeration, inspection, and labeling during the transportation of salmonid fish.
