Russia has given its approval for 12 South African seafood processors to export to the country as Moscow looks for other trade partners after its embargo on food from markets including the EU.

The Russian veterinary and phytosanitary service’s website listed 12 firms last week (5 November) with a status set to “import is approved: fish” beside each.

According to Reuters, this is the first time since the 1990s South African fish will be exported to Russia on a commercial basis.

In August, Moscow placed restrictions on food imports from the EU, US, Canada and Norway in retaliation for sanctions imposed upon on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.

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