NOAA Outlines New Procedures for Exporting Fish/Fish Products to Russia
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seafood Inspection Program has issued a notice announcing the requirements for the exportation of fish and fishery products to Russia, as set forth in the U.S.-Russia Memorandum of Understanding, which became effective on February 25, 2010.
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(On February 25, 2010, a MOU was signed between Rosselkhoznadzor (the responsible Russian government agency) and NOAA regarding the certification of seafood products exported from the U.S. to Russia. The purpose of the agreement is to establish the terms for cooperation on monitoring the quality and safety of seafood products exported from the U.S. to Russia.)
NOAA to Issue Export Health Certificates to Approved U.S. Firms
Pursuant to the MOU, NOAA, through its Seafood Inspection Program1, will issue export health certificates only to those U.S. firms on the SIP List of Approved for export of fish and fishery products to Russia.
Only establishments meeting certain requirements (detailed below) and subsequently approved by Rosselkhoznadzor may receive certification from the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program. The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program will allow a 90 day grace period after which U.S. seafood firms must fully comply with the new requirements.
Requirements for U.S. Firms
According to the terms of the MOU, U.S. seafood firms in the supply chain desiring to produce, pack, store, or ship fish and fishery products for export to Russia are required to meet the requirements of the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program to be approved establishments.
Specifically, each U.S. seafood firm in the supply chain for export to Russia must:
Meet Codex, OIE standards. Demonstrate through inspection by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program that seafood products produced at each U.S. seafood firm in the supply chain and exported to Russia meet the applicable Codex Alimentarius Commission, and the Organization for International Epizootics (OIE) standards, and meet the food safety objectives of U.S. and Russia laws and regulations for seafood products.
Maintain good standing with FDA. Maintain regulatory good standing with the Food and Drug Administration. Only those U.S. seafood firms with a unique firm identification number, either a Central File Number or Firm Establishment Identifier, issued by the FDA are eligible to receive an export health certificate from the Seafood Inspection Program for export of seafood products to Russia.
Pass inspection. Demonstrate through inspection by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program that each U.S. seafood firm in the supply chain meets the Seafood Inspection Program requirements for inclusion on a List of Approved Establishments.
(See notice for additional details.)
1The Seafood Inspection Program is responsible for the development and advancement of commercial grade standards for fishery products and better health and sanitation standards in the industry and for furnishing inspection, evaluation, analytical, grading, and certification services to interested parties. Its primary purpose is to encourage and assist the industry in improving the quality, wholesomeness, safety, proper labeling,
and marketability of seafood products.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/06/10 news, 10080312, for BP summary of USTR Kirk discussing issues with the recently negotiated U.S.-Russia poultry agreement.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/09/10 news, 10080910, for BP summary of Russia introducing a temporary ban on the export of some grains.)
NOAA contact- Steven Wilson (301) 713-2355 x217 or steven.wilson@noaa.gov