Russia could limit exports of minimally processed fish products - meeting minutes

MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Russia could limit exports of minimally processed fish products in order to increase supplies to domestic processing enterprises.

According to the minutes of a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko in early February, the Agriculture Ministry and several other involved authorities have been instructed to develop the matter of the advisability of implementing such a restriction. Interfax reviewed the document, and Abramchenko's office confirmed the contents of the meeting minutes.

"The Agriculture Ministry of the Russian Federation, jointly with the involved federal executive authorities, as well as with the participation of industry unions, have been instructed to submit to the government agreed proposals on the advisability of implementing additional restrictions on exporting minimally processed fish products," according to the document.

A deadline for completing the assignment has not been specified.

The meeting was devoted to the discussion of the draft government resolution defining the list of types of fish products, production of which can be granted a deduction of fees for the use of aquatic bioresource sites. The document was prepared by the Agriculture Ministry.

In particular, it envisages deduction of fees for the use of aquatic bioresources such as pollock, cod, haddock and herring. However, as was noted at the meeting this fish and products derived from it are mostly exported. As such, the idea came about to consider the issue of additional restrictions on the export of low-margin products.

Since representatives for a number of regions said that the proposed deduction may have a negative impact on the revenues of regional budgets, Abramchenko instructed Rosrybolovstvo to submit to the government and the Agriculture Ministry calculations on the amount of revenues of Russian constituent subjects from payment of fees for use of aquatic biological resources, as well as on the amount of income that may be lost by regions when introducing the deduction prior to March 3.

Abramchenko instructed that the draft decree be finalized and justification be provided for the deduction given the shortfall of revenues for the regional and federal budget, as well as comments provided by ministries and regions.

The finalized draft decree must be submitted to the government by March 16.