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The food safety protocol serves as basis for the registration with the relevant Chinese agencies of individual Estonian companies interested in exporting their output to China, the ministry said.

Kruuse described the signing of the protocol as being the result of a long period of work.

"With the signing of the protocol about fish China has recognized the functioning of the Estonian food and safety system specifically when it comes to supervision over the companies harvesting and processing sprat and Baltic herring. The agreement covers both refrigerated and frozen sprat and Baltic herring as well as products made thereof," Kruuse said.

During the meeting, further steps as regards moving forward with the recognition of other product groups were spoken about.

"The Chinese minister reaffirmed that they are prepared for allround cooperation in developing trade between the countries and expressed hope that a protocol on milk will be signed shortly," Kruuse said.

The Chinese system of product approval requires separate registration of each fish species with the Chinese supervisory authority, and documents concerning only one fish species are handled at a time. A common authorization for sprat and Baltic herring was obtained because the Chinese supervisor views the two species as one category.

The Estonian minister of rural affairs, accompanied by officials and a business delegation, is on an official visit to China from April 26-28.