Russia May Start Fish Imports From Iran This Month: Agriculture Official

Delegation of Russia's agriculture watchdog will head to Iran next week to hold a pre-import inspection and make a final decision on the sales.

MOSCOW, December 12 (Sputnik) – Russia may start importing fish and fish products from Iran this month, a spokesman for Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Friday.

Russia banned imports of fish, seafood and other foodstuffs from the European Union and other countries earlier this year in response to Western sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.

“A delegation of Rosselkhoznadzor will head to Iran next week to hold a pre-import inspection and make a final decision on the sales. The delivery will take place as soon as we inspect the cargo, maybe even next week,” Aide to the Head of Rosselkhoznadzor Alexey Alexeyenko said.

Alexeyenko added that Russia planned to import all kinds of agricultural produce from Iran, including fruit and vegetables. The Russian official said this issue would be brought up for discussion before Russian experts next week.

In October, Rosselkhoznadzor Head Sergey Dankvert said that Russia had included over 20 Iranian seafood companies producing shrimps and marine products on a list of potential suppliers. On Wednesday, the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture said that 18 Iranian companies intended to start supplying fish products to Russia.

According to Russia’s Federal Customs Service, the total cost of imported fish and fish products in Russia reached $2.86 billion in 2013. The largest exporters were Norway, Chile, China, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.