Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO1188
2006-09-26 14:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWEGIANS DIFFUSE THREATENED RUSSIAN FISH EXPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO0704 PP RUEHLN DE RUEHNY #1188 2691433 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261433Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4648 INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 2135 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 7832 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 3913 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0728 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 2931 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 4333 RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG PRIORITY 0123 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS OSLO 001188
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
THE HAGUE FOR FAS:ROGER WENTZEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS PREL SENV NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS DIFFUSE THREATENED RUSSIAN FISH EXPORT
BAN
REF: A. MOSCOW 10364
B. OSLO 583
UNCLAS OSLO 001188
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
THE HAGUE FOR FAS:ROGER WENTZEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS PREL SENV NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS DIFFUSE THREATENED RUSSIAN FISH EXPORT
BAN
REF: A. MOSCOW 10364
B. OSLO 583
1. (SBU) Summary: Russian authorities will not place a ban
on all Norwegian seafood following discussions between
Norwegian and Russian food safety authorities. Russian
veterinary officials threatened to ban all fish exports from
Norway as of October 1 following their discovery of forged
Norwegian veterinary inspection certificates in some
shipments of Norwegian seafood on September 7. Norwegians
will implement new tamper-proof export documentation by
October 15. A ban on import of Norwegian salmon from
un-approved facilities remains in effect. The agreement is
very good news for the Norwegian seafood industry which
retains access to its largest market. It is also good news
for the Norwegian government, which has shown that it can
respond quickly and effectively to Russian trade concerns.
END SUMMARY
2. (U) Norwegian Food Safety Authority Director General
Joakim Lystad and Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Oyvind
Nordsletten met with Russian Veterinary Service Director
Yevgeniy Nepoklonov in Moscow on September 21 to discuss a
pending ban on all Norwegian seafood exports to Russia. The
one-day discussions resulted in an agreement whereby seafood
shipments leaving Norway will be sealed to eliminate
tampering, and location of the catch, landing, and export
information will be delineated. The Norwegians will develop
new tamper resistant veterinary certification by October 15.
The agreement is subject to pro forma approval by Russian
authorities.
3. (U) Imports of fresh Norwegian salmon are still
restricted to producers who have successfully completed
inspections from Russian Veterinary Authority personnel.
Norwegian Seafood Export Council officials stated that eight
producers has passed inspections that began in May and about
100 other producers still need to be certified. Norwegian
firms are required to pay Russian authorities for the
inspections.
4. (SBU) Some observers saw protectionist or corrupt motives
when the possible ban was first announced. Norway is the
world's largest producer of farm raised salmon and, in 2005,
Norway exported USD 533 million worth of seafood to Russia.
Others speculated that the threatened ban had to do with
Norway's aggressive monitoring of Russian fishing vessels in
waters surrounding the Svalbard archipelago. Norwegian
authorities detained two more Russian fishing vessels last
week and charged them with unauthorized off-loading within
Norwegian waters.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Regardless of speculation, Norwegian
officials focused on understanding and addressing the issues
presented to them by their Russian counterparts. Veterinary,
Customs, and Foreign Ministry officials coordinated closely
and concentrated discussions in Moscow on addressing the
certificate issue. The Norwegians' efforts paid off, and
while this may not be the last episode of the
Norwegian-Russian fisheries saga, the quick resolution of the
issue also showed that Norway's broad engagement with Russia
is paying dividends. END COMMENT
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
THE HAGUE FOR FAS:ROGER WENTZEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS PREL SENV NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS DIFFUSE THREATENED RUSSIAN FISH EXPORT
BAN
REF: A. MOSCOW 10364
B. OSLO 583
1. (SBU) Summary: Russian authorities will not place a ban
on all Norwegian seafood following discussions between
Norwegian and Russian food safety authorities. Russian
veterinary officials threatened to ban all fish exports from
Norway as of October 1 following their discovery of forged
Norwegian veterinary inspection certificates in some
shipments of Norwegian seafood on September 7. Norwegians
will implement new tamper-proof export documentation by
October 15. A ban on import of Norwegian salmon from
un-approved facilities remains in effect. The agreement is
very good news for the Norwegian seafood industry which
retains access to its largest market. It is also good news
for the Norwegian government, which has shown that it can
respond quickly and effectively to Russian trade concerns.
END SUMMARY
2. (U) Norwegian Food Safety Authority Director General
Joakim Lystad and Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Oyvind
Nordsletten met with Russian Veterinary Service Director
Yevgeniy Nepoklonov in Moscow on September 21 to discuss a
pending ban on all Norwegian seafood exports to Russia. The
one-day discussions resulted in an agreement whereby seafood
shipments leaving Norway will be sealed to eliminate
tampering, and location of the catch, landing, and export
information will be delineated. The Norwegians will develop
new tamper resistant veterinary certification by October 15.
The agreement is subject to pro forma approval by Russian
authorities.
3. (U) Imports of fresh Norwegian salmon are still
restricted to producers who have successfully completed
inspections from Russian Veterinary Authority personnel.
Norwegian Seafood Export Council officials stated that eight
producers has passed inspections that began in May and about
100 other producers still need to be certified. Norwegian
firms are required to pay Russian authorities for the
inspections.
4. (SBU) Some observers saw protectionist or corrupt motives
when the possible ban was first announced. Norway is the
world's largest producer of farm raised salmon and, in 2005,
Norway exported USD 533 million worth of seafood to Russia.
Others speculated that the threatened ban had to do with
Norway's aggressive monitoring of Russian fishing vessels in
waters surrounding the Svalbard archipelago. Norwegian
authorities detained two more Russian fishing vessels last
week and charged them with unauthorized off-loading within
Norwegian waters.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Regardless of speculation, Norwegian
officials focused on understanding and addressing the issues
presented to them by their Russian counterparts. Veterinary,
Customs, and Foreign Ministry officials coordinated closely
and concentrated discussions in Moscow on addressing the
certificate issue. The Norwegians' efforts paid off, and
while this may not be the last episode of the
Norwegian-Russian fisheries saga, the quick resolution of the
issue also showed that Norway's broad engagement with Russia
is paying dividends. END COMMENT
WHITNEY