EU Gives Myanmar the Green Light for Fish Exports

EU has signalled that Myanmar’s farmed fish will be able to be exported to its market, according to an official form the Myanmar Fishery Products Processors and Exporters Association (MFPPEA).

Photo: Wai Linn Kyaw/MBT

“We learnt from an industry meeting of EU that farm-raised fish exports from Myanmar will be allowed,” U Tun Aye, chairman of the association, said at a meeting held at the headquarters of Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF).

Currently only fish caught from the wild are accepted into the EU market, but with cultured fish likely to be accepted soon, fish farmers will need to comply with standard procedures and regulations, he urged.

News of EU’s change of regulations came after a delegation of experts from the EU and the US inspected facilities in Myanmar earlier this year.

“In some fish farms, pigs and chicken shelters are also built close to the ponds and there’s no way that EU countries will buy fish from such ponds. Only fish reared according to their standards and regulations will be accepted,” said Dr Myint Sein, an executive member of MFF.

In Europe, Myanmar exports catch fish to Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Britain. China and the Middle East are the biggest markets for Myanmar’s catch fish exports, according to statistics from the MFPPEA.

Despite high demand, potential foreign markets are casting doubts on Myanmar’s fish supply, which is limited by the declining outputs and the low production capacity in the aquaculture industry.

However there are signs of hope for the sector, with barriers such as EU’s previous requirement for fish imports from Myanmar to go through a biological inspection being lifted.

Source: http://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/eu-gives-myanmar-green-light-fish-exports

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