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 fromIran this month, a spokesman forRussias agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Friday.
Russia banned imports offish, seafood and other foodstuffs fromthe European Union and other countries earlier this year inresponse toWestern sanctions onRussia overUkraine.
A delegation ofRosselkhoznadzor will head toIran next week tohold a pre-import inspection and make a final decision onthe sales. The delivery will take place assoon aswe inspect the cargo, maybe even next week, Aide tothe Head ofRosselkhoznadzor Alexey Alexeyenko said.
Alexeyenko added that Russia planned toimport all kinds ofagricultural produce fromIran, including fruit and vegetables. The Russian official said this issue would be brought upfor discussion beforeRussian experts next week.
In October, Rosselkhoznadzor Head Sergey Dankvert said that Russia had included over20 Iranian seafood companies producing shrimps and marine products ona list ofpotential suppliers. On Wednesday, the Iranian Ministry ofAgriculture said that 18 Iranian companies intended tostart supplying fish products toRussia.
According toRussias Federal Customs Service, the total cost ofimported fish and fish products inRussia reached $2.86 billion in2013. The largest exporters were Norway, Chile, China, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
By Sputnik News
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