Rosselkhoznadzor restricts Armenian fish shipments

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, has announced that from June 2 Armenia must stop certifying live fish and fish products intended for export to Russia.

According to the agency’s statement, the decision was made following inspections carried out by Russian specialists at fish-processing enterprises in Armenia and at facilities engaged in the breeding and maintenance of trout, Interfax reported.

“Based on the inspection results, from June 2, 2026, the Armenian side must suspend veterinary certification of live fish and fish products for Russian buyers for all Armenian companies, with the exception of two enterprises that successfully passed the inspection, until the current situation is resolved,” the statement said.

Rosselkhoznadzor said the inspection results were assessed as unsatisfactory. It also emphasized that nearly half of the enterprises subject to inspection declined to receive the inspection team.

“Fish products from the two inspected plants will be permitted for import into Russia, subject to ongoing laboratory monitoring of safety indicators,” the agency stated.

Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergey Dankvert said the service had identified shipments of products of unknown origin, some of which, according to him, might not be of Armenian origin.

“There is no way that trout from Armenia’s mountain rivers can resemble Norwegian fish,” Dankvert said.