Country's frozen food exporters will start export to Russian market this week after the withdrawal of temporary restriction imposed by Russia on its import from Bangladesh. The restriction was withdrawn two and a half months ago.
ARK Seafood Ltd executive director Md Anwarul Haque said: "We will start export of frozen foods to Russia within this week as we got the certificate from our authorities concerned Tuesday."
He said Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russian Federation (Rosselkhoznadzor) lifted the temporary ban on ARK Seafood Ltd on March 4 last. But it takes time to complete the full procedure of export.
Russia, one of the potential markets for Bangladeshi frozen foods, put a temporary restriction on its import due to failure in complying with the required microbiological standards.
Apex Foods Ltd director Ashim Kumar Barua said: "Rosselkhoznadzor lifted ban from March 19 last but we have declared the consignment to Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) under Department of Fisheries (DoF) and the FIQC inspectors visited the factory to collect random samples of shrimp."
"They sent it for microbiological and chemical tests and if we can fulfil the requirements of Rosselkhoznadzor, then they will give certificate enabling us to export frozen food to Russia," he added.
"We are hopeful that we will be able to send our export items to Russian buyers by the end of this month," Mr. Barua added. Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor lifted its ban on Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd on February 6, 2014.
Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd deputy managing director Khan Habibur Rahman said: "We have started the procedure to export to Russia and by the end of this month we may start export. Bagerhat Sea Food Ltd got the temporary restriction in early 2010 and rest of the three got it last year.
From November 2013 export to Russia was totally stopped. Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) executive director Abul Bashar said: "We export around seven per cent of our total shrimp to Russia and frozen foods worth Tk 3.0 to 3.5 billion are exported annually."
"Our exporters got opportunity to export to Russia again as it lifted ban on three local companies."
"We urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to lift ban on Fresh Foods Ltd as well as pave the way for 78 Bangladeshi frozen food exporters who are enlisted to export to European Union." he said.
Bangladesh exported frozen foods worth $ 495.84 million during July to March this fiscal year (FY 2013-14), compared to $ 396.60 million of the same period 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.
