The Norwegian food safety authority (FSA) will follow up the 13 companies to see why they do not meet the Russian standards, said Ole Fjetland, assistant director of supervision at the FSA.
The FSA and Russian veterinary authorities met in Brussels last week to dscuss food safety and market access for Norwegian salmon and trout to Russia. The meeting ended without result.
On Saturday 28 April, FSA recienved a letter from the Russian Veterinary Services announcing that the 13 companies would be temporarily banned from the Russian market on the 5 May.
The letter states that the reason for exclusion is "repeated discoveries of goods that do not meet the Russian Federation and the Customs Union requirements, and follow-up inspections in February found importation of chilled products to be a health risk."
The 13 companies that are banned from the 5 May are:
- H-82 Bremnes Seas Whore AS
- H-72 Austevoll salmon packing AS
- H-109 Hardanger fish AS
- H-111 Viking Fjord AS
- H-112 Sekkingstad AS
- SF-364 Martin E. Birknes Eftf.
- SF-371 slaughterhouse Brekke AS
- NT-166 Nils Williksen AS
- N-855 Mainstream Norway AS
- N-800 Pundslett Salmon AS
- N-136 Alsvg Fish Products Inc.
- N-1041 Nova Sea AS
- M-480 Hofseth AS
In addition, the Russian veterinary service reported that any future discoveries in consignments of fresh salmon from Norway may have consequences for other exporters.
FSA takes the situation very seriously and is planning to improve procedures for monitoring exports to Russia, said Ole Fjetland.
FSA will shortly respond to the letter from the Russian veterinary.
