China grants first export licence for Finnish fish products

In connection with an export promotion visit by the Finnish Food Authority and Permanent Secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, China has granted its first export licence for Finnish fish products. The export authorisation granted by the Chinese authorities is specific to certain establishments, and it currently applies to one Finnish fish product manufacturer.

The export licence concerns Finnish fish only, while Norwegian salmon cannot be exported to China via Finland. The licence is applicable to certain fish species and products, including frozen, salted and smoked Finnish salmon, rainbow trout, common whitefish (lavaret) and roach fish.

- Promoting the blue bioeconomy is one of the Finnish Government’s key projects. The opening of the Chinese markets for fish products means enormous opportunities for the whole fisheries sector in Finland. The global demand for fisheries products from our clean waters keeps growing, says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.

Opening the export licences has been prepared as a collaborative effort by the export team of the Finnish Food Authority (until the end of 2018 the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira). The Chinese authorities have been provided with comprehensive analyses on the manufacture of fish products in Finland, and the authorities have visited Finland to inspect the production facilities.

Inquiries:
Hentriikka Kontio, Senior Veterinary Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 40 731 2260
Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 40 029 1910
Risto Lahti, Special Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 50 565 0424
Riitta Rahkila, Senior Officer, Finnish Food Authority, tel. +358 50 5914790