International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that the government is taking immediate measures to avoid an European Union (EU) ban on our seafood exports.

EU health representatives found upon inspection that Malaysia lagged in meeting its stringent health standards. Six out of the nine seafood companies they randomly visited did not pass their test.

muhyiddin kawasaki eu ap 100608 02 “The talk of ban on our seafood is believed to be because of non-compliance with some of the certification on health standards,” said Muhyiddin.

The EU is expected to make a final decision on the matter on June 18.

Speaking at the launch of Kawasaki Motors’ new assembly plant, the minister pointed out that the Health Ministry was responsible in ensuring our fishery industry meets foreign health specifications.

“The Health Ministry was supposed to do the inspections but it was not done to their (EU) expectations,” he said.

Best seafood

The minister also said he wrote to the EU Commission last week requesting for a reconsideration and in the meantime the Health Ministry will also look into implementing the required regulations.

“I hope they (EU commission) will take this positively... they need our seafood anyway because we have the best seafood in the world,” he claimed.

“But I have written to the health minister to take measures immediately so that we will not have an adverse effect on our exports,” he added.

Muhyiddin explained that he did not know the actual amount of losses that might incur but hinted that it would be ‘a substantial loss’.

More than 40 local companies export seafood to Europe and according to EU statistics last year Malaysia’s aquatic product exports totaled up to RM516 million.