Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) will provide necessary assistance to fish farmers so that they can resume exports to Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation (MOALI) will assist domestic aquaculture businesses in meeting trading requirements set by the Saudi Arabia Food and Drug Authority, U Hla Kyaw, deputy minister said during a 

Parliament session yesterday. 

The deputy minister was responding to questions raised by U Aung Kyi Nyunt, Hluttaw MP from Magway Region.

“We will provide the necessary assistance required so that the businesses are able to export their products to Saudi Arabia once more,” said U Hla Kyaw.

Saudi Arabia in February announced that it would suspend the import of aquaculture products from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Vietnam from April 1 onwards. The suspension will be in place until the facilities comply with Saudi Arabia’s requirements and is compliance with World Trade Organisation regulations.

This was announced after a delegation of regulators from Saudi Arabia conducted inspections at more than 20 farms in Vietnam and found only nine which met the hygiene requirements of Saudi Arabia. 

The Saudis also found aquaculture products imported from Southeast Asian nations in January were infected two types of animal diseases: White Spot Disease and Acute Hepatopancreatic Necorsis Disease.

An additional disease, White Tail Disease, was found to have occurred in certain areas in Myanmar, resulting in the ban, said U Hla Kyaw.

Since then, Myanmar investigations have found the White Tail Disease to be present only in farmed shrimp. “As the viral infection also does not affect fish, we have written to the Saudi Arabia Embassy for permission to continue exporting our fishery products,” he said.

Saudi Arabia is among the largest markets for Myanmar fisheries, with exports to bringing in between $25 million to $35 million yearly, according to government data.  More than 21,000 tonnes of Myanmar fish and prawns are shipped yearly to Saudi Arabia.

In 2017-18, Myanmar received $100 million in revenues from fishery exports, with Tanintharyi Region responsible for the bulk of the produce. Myanmar also exports fishery products to Australia, China and Japan.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/government-help-fish-farmers-resume-saudi-exports.html )

​