Russia lifts temporary ban on a Bangladeshi shrimp exporter

Sonia H Moni | Published: February 19, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Russia has withdrawn the temporary ban on a Bangladeshi shrimp exporting company early this month paving the way for resumption of shrimp export to that country.
"Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation (Rosselkho-znadzor) had withdrawn the temporary restriction from February 6, 2014," Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) Nittya Ranjan Biswas told the FE.
He said, Rosselkhoznadzor uploaded the withdrawal letter on its website in Russian language and Bangladesh Commercial Counselor to Russia Noor Md Mahbubul Haq sent a letter to country's Department of Fisheries Director General in this regard.
Four Bangladeshi companies-Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd, Fresh Foods Ltd, Apex Food Ltd and ARK Sea Food Ltd-got approval from the Department of Federal Service for Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation for exporting shrimp in September, 2009.
"Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd got the temporary ban in early 2010 and rest of the three got last year --- Apex Food Ltd in August, ARK Sea Food Ltd in October and Fresh Foods Ltd in November of the same year. Shrimp export to Russia was totally stopped in November, 2013,"
"Our officials inspected Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd and asked the authorities of the company to comply with Russian government's requirement. We sent letters to the Russian authority in this regard several times. Finally we have sent inspection report of the processing unit and they have lifted the temporary ban." Mr Biswas said.
Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd deputy managing director Khan Habibur Rahman said: "It's a result of our last four years' efforts. The Rosselkhoznadzor said that they have got mercury in our sample. But, the day they mentioned in their letter, our product did not reach there on that day."
"They have admitted it but they did not lift the restriction. Despite having British Retail Consortium (BRC), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Aquaculture Certification Council (ACC) certificate we had to wait for couple of years."
"We had exported shrimp worth around $30m to Russia before the imposition of the restriction. We are expecting our first shipment to Russia by March." Mr Rahman said.
Exporters said, Russia offers 10 to 20 cent higher price per kg than the offers by the European Union and the US to Bangladesh. It makes 30 per cent advance payment after deals so that the exporters can get relief from bank interest.
Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) President Md Amin Ullah said: "Seven per cent of the country's total frozen foods export worth Tk 3.0 to 3.5 billion go to Russia annually."
He said: "The Department of Fisheries is taking measures to resume export of frozen foods by three other local companies. We are hopeful that the market will be opened to the three companies soon."
Bangladesh exported frozen foods worth $ 418.74 million during July to January of fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 compared to $ 332.46 million of the same period of last fiscal, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data showed.
The government has set a target of exporting $ 578.77 million worth of frozen foods this fiscal.