ANOTHER SABAH SEAFOOD FARM POISED TO MAKE EU DEBUT SOON

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Another seafood farm in the
east Malaysian state of Sabah is expected to earn the European Union (EU)
certification soon.

This will allow it to export its seafood products to EU member countries,
said the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission in
Malaysia, Vincent Piket.

"We will issue the necessary certification once the farm fulfills the
EU reguirements with regards to seafood hygiene standards," he told reporters,
here Wednesday.

The EU banned fish exports from Sabah in April 2008 as manufacturers and
farms did not comply with its standards and regulations.

Warisan Hikmat is the only seafood farm in Sabah with the EU certification
at present and is allowed to export its white and tiger prawns to member
countries.

On Feb 1, this year, Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin, who is also
the state Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said the government
was considering requiring all seafood farms and seafood product manufacturers to
adopt standardised practices that meet EU requirements to satisfy global demand.

He was also quoted as saying that the measure is to ensure farms and
manufacturers meet market expectations, in case the EU requirement becomes a
global standard for export in future.

Piket said the EU is imposing a stringent seafood hygiene import standard in
order to protect public health and safety.

"We are not checking on all fishery products exported or farms in Malaysia,
including those in Sabah. But we are making random checks from time to time.

"In fact, we are relying on the Malaysian authorities like the Health and
Agriculture Ministries to ensure standards," he said.

Seafood products generate billions of ringgit annually and are considered as
the second largest edible item exported by Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA