Chile’s Salmon Council announced that it is working closely with national and international authorities to address threatened salmon exports to Russia.
Earlier this month, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) warned that Chile had sent products to the country that violated Russian veterinary and sanitary requirements, including “repeated” discrepancies in necessary documentation, labels, and veterinary certificates. To rectify the issue, the Russian regulatory body asked Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) to take measures to tighten export controls on seafood exported to Russia, warning that, otherwise, it may restrict seafood imports as early as 20 September.
“Addressing this situation in an active and timely fashion is key to safeguarding any possible impact on Chilean salmon farming, especially considering that Russia is currently the fourth-largest destination market for national salmon,” the Salmon Council said.
The organization noted that its International Trade Director Pablo Barahona would play a relevant role in the talks, highlighting his vast knowledge of the Russian market after having served there as agricultural attaché and commercial director of export promotion agency ProChile for more than 11 years.
Now, under the Salmon Council, he maintains active collaboration with a wide range of relevant institutions, including government departments, diplomatic bodies, related trade associations and multilateral organizations in the food chain, and international health, food, and foreign trade entities.
“As has always been the hallmark of the Salmon Council, we are acting responsibly and in coordination with the corresponding authorities to face this situation. Russia is a very important market for Chile, and today more than ever, geopolitical changes require us to be attentive and prepared,” Salmon Council Executive President Loreto Seguel said. “The Salmon Council contributes with its experience, but this is a process that must be resolved at the institutional and diplomatic level in the hands of our Chilean and Russian authorities.”
Thus, she added that her association would solely act as a “facilitator and ally” in discussions.
Exports of Chilean salmon to Russia have increased so far in 2025. Between January and July, salmon shipments to Russia reportedly reached 26,666 metric tons (MT), totaling USD 197 million (EUR 168 million), marking a 96.5 percent jump in volume and a 107 percent surge in value compared to the same period in 2024.
The development is a marked change from when Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Chilean salmon-farming firms began to cut off their shipments to the country. At the time, salmon exports originally destined to Russia were redirected to other markets, particularly to Asia.
Before the onset of its war against Ukraine, Russia had restricted Chilean salmon exports for similar accusations.
Rosselkhoznadzor blocked products from a series of Chilean salmon-processing plants in early 2020, claiming it detected traces of crystal violet, which is a dye with antibacterial and antifungal properties, and antibiotics in farmed salmon. Russia restricted a total of 19 different establishments – 17 processing plants and two cold storage warehouses. The nation began to lift restrictions later that same year, following a visit from the director of Sernapesca.
The Salmon Council represents salmon-farming firms AquaChile, Australis, Cermaq, Mowi, and Salmones Aysén, which together produce more than half of Chile’s farmed salmon.
