Norway is working on getting increased market access for Norwegian seafood to China says Harald T. Nesvik, Norwegian minister of Fisheries and Seafood, after a meeting on 31 October 2019 in Beijing with Deputy Minister Zhang Jiwen. Zhang is Deputy Minister of the General Administration of Customs to China, which regulates the import of food into China.
The meeting in Beijing was a follow-up to the political talks Nesvik had with Customs Minister Ni Yuefeng in Oslo earlier this year, where restrictions on three Norwegian salmon exporters were lifted. In connection with this meeting, the salmon agreement between Norway and China was renewed, and an agreement was also entered into on market access for fish oil and fish meal for ingredients in feed.
In a press release, it says Nesvik also raised the question of market access for other and new seafood products that do not have approval today. The parties agree that they want progress in this process. Nevertheless, it will take some time before the approval of new species can be expected.
Anyone exporting to China must be approved by Chinese authorities. Manufacturers and exporters must be listed.
– We have a good dialogue on these issues. I have a good faith belief that updated lists will be able to be published by Chinese authorities in no time. The goal is that we can export even more seafood to China, both of salmon, cod and mackerel, but also several new species, says Nesvik.
