The Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA) regularly conducts monitoring aimed at maintaining epizootiological stability in the fisheries sector, strengthening biosecurity measures, and enforcing safety controls over fishery products.
Sea-news.az reportsciting information provided to AZERTAC by the AQTA Department of Information Provision and Innovative Solutions, that during these monitoring activities, the epizootiological condition of farms and water bodies is assessed, and measures are taken to ensure the early detection of diseases and risk assessment. Fisheries entities receive methodological and educational support concerning compliance with veterinary and biosecurity requirements, disease prevention, and early detection. These measures not only safeguard epizootiological stability in fish farms and guarantee product safety, but also create conditions for expanding export opportunities.
As a result of these enforcement and monitoring measures, 6,108.7 tons of frozen fish products were exported from Azerbaijan to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan in January–July of this year. This figure represents an 81.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, AQTA and the General Administration of Customs of China have signed documents establishing the legal basis for exporting aquaculture and wild-caught seafood products to the Chinese market.
To ensure the continuity of export authorization for sturgeon caviar produced at aquaculture facilities into the European Union market, an annual “National Monitoring Plan for Residues in Fishery Products” is implemented, the results of which are submitted to the EU.
A significant surge was also registered in caviar exports. Over the past 7 months, 954.2 kilograms of fish caviar were exported to 12 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Italy. Compared to the previous year, the volume of exported fish caviar increased 2.7-fold. Exported fish products and caviar are provided with veterinary certificates in accordance with the requirements of importing countries.
Alongside caviar, the Agency is actively working to secure export authorizations for various farmed fish species to the EU and United Kingdom markets.
Cooled and frozen fish products are imported into Azerbaijan from more than 20 countries, including Iran, Russia, Vietnam, Turkey, China, Chile, Norway, and Estonia. AQTA applies documentary, identity, and physical control measures to these products. Their safety, minimum quality indicators, and organoleptic characteristics are evaluated, and samples are subjected to laboratory testing.
Between 2025 and 2026, the Agency conducted a total of 24 inspections across 20 fisheries enterprises. During the inspections, non-conformities were identified in 18 enterprises, prompting necessary actions within the framework of legislation and mandatory instructions issued to entrepreneurs to eliminate the shortcomings.
“The risk-based monitoring, laboratory control, and biosecurity measures implemented by AQTA serve to ensure epizootiological stability and the production of safe goods in the fisheries sector, supply the domestic market with secure fishery products, protect the access of Azerbaijani fishery goods to international markets, and enhance export potential,” the statement emphasized.
