Russia's agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, has accused the European Union (EU) of sabotaging efforts to resolve issues that would allow Russian fishing companies to export their products to Western markets. According to "Interfax," representatives from Rosselkhoznadzor claimed that EU counterparts ignored constructive approaches and refused to engage in a bilateral meeting proposed by Russia.
WTO Involvement and International Response
During a session of the World Trade Organization's Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee), it was agreed that EU representatives disregarded efforts to address the issue of Russian fish exports.
The Russian side also highlighted approvals for domestic livestock exports to South Africa and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Japan faced scrutiny over its plans to discharge water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, with China demanding comprehensive scientific evidence to support Japan's claims.
Impact on European Markets and Russian Exports
In May 2024, the shortage of Atlantic cod in Europe worsened amid global catch reductions and trade restrictions with Russia, as reported by the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises (VARPE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Experts note that the ban on trade with Russia, following the onset of the Ukraine conflict, continues to affect European processors.
Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor reported a sharp increase in fish exports from the Russian Far East, marking a record volume in the past five years with nearly 30,000 tons exported in the first weeks of January, compared to just over 12,000 tons in January 2023.
