Aquaculture for all

Scottish salmon nets top 10 spot for export to China

SCOTLAND - Scottish farmerd salmon has been included in a prestigious top 10 of European foods, which could give the product a major export boost and open up new markets in the Far East.

The fish has been included in a select list of quality foods in a unique European Commission trade agreement with China, which allows foodstuffs to be sold in that country. In return, 10 Chinese foods will now be allowed into the European markets.

The baskets of top-of-the-range European and Chinese foods have their home location in their names, including Parma Ham, Roquefort Cheese, Yancheng Crayfish and Guanxi Honey Pomelo, a citrus fruit.

The aim of the trade co-operation, which followed a year's consultation, is to protect foodstuffs that are intrinsically tied to where they are made. The 10 European products were chosen from a list of 750 awarded Protected Geographic Indication status by the EU.

Sid Patten, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO), said: "This is fantastic news for such an iconic product of Scotland's, which gives us every potential for growth. It is an acknowledgement of where Scottish salmon stands in the top of the pops in food and drink, and shows that what the industry has been trying to do over many years has been appreciated."

At present, the export value of Scottish farmed salmon is around £150 million, accounting for 40 per cent of all Scottish food exports, with 1000 tonnes going to the Far East.

Source: The Sunday Herald
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