Brazilian seafood processors are upbeat about the prospects for a resumption of exports to the European Union in the first quarter of 2019, ABIPESCA, the trade body representing the country's largest processors told IntraFish.

"The private sector is ready to restart exports, which has made the necessary corrections," ABIPESCA president Eduardo Lobo IntraFish.

"In the best case scenario some parts of the industry should restart exports in February or March 2019."

Before exports can resume, EU officials insist there must be clarity in relation to who is responsible for sanitary inspection checks on factory vessels, the landing of raw material into ports and processing plants.