Salmon companies must pay for inspections

NORWAY - Norwegian salmon companies must pay up to NOK 100,000 (USD 16,000) to have their facilities visited by Russian inspectors, a demand for renewed export permission.

The Ministry of Fisheries rejects comparisons with bribery, news agency ANB reports.

Russia demands inspections of Norwegian salmon farming facilities before Norwegian farmed salmon can have renewed export access to the Russian market. The companies must pay between NOK 50,000-100,000 for a visit that includes transport, accommodation, fishing trips and other social activities, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports.

Three Russian inspectors have been in Norway for over a week to check ten salmon farms, the inspections taking less than a day each.

Source: Aftenposten