Economic Ministry has stated that an inspection team from China is currently conducting a visit to local fish exporters to issue licenses to the exporters.
Four officials from AQSIQ, the Chinese regulatory body for food import and export had arrived in the country yesterday.
An Economic Ministry official stated that the officials will determine if the fish and fish products were of export quality to the Chinese market. The official added that the team will visit MIFCO, ENSIS and other fish exporters and inspect their factories.
The official said that once the inspection was carried out, the licenses will be issued to those companies that had passed the inspection. Currently, fish is not exported to China. The biggest export markets for the Maldives, is Europe, the Americas and some Asian nations.
AQSIQ team yesterday met teams from Food and Drug Authority (MDFA) and ENSIS fisheries company.
The fisheries sector had contracted over the past few months, after EU slashed the duties and exemptions. The government had approached new markets, such as the Middle East.
Under the free trade agreement to be agreed between China and the Maldives, discussions had been held to slash duties for the fish exports. Economic Ministry has estimated that the agreement will be signed this year.
