"We've now entered the homestretch and can finally agree to cooperate in such a way as to ensure product quality," Alexei Gordeyev told a news conference after talks with the visiting Norwegian fisheries minister, Helga Pedersen.
Gordeyev said a group of Norwegian experts had visited Moscow last week to "examine all [relevant] documents in detail and agree on how Norwegian suppliers of fish to Russia should be inspected."
At present, about 700 Norwegian companies export fish to Russia.
Russia, the largest consumer of Norwegian fish (about 40%), suspended the import of chilled seafood from Norway last month following the detection of heavy metals hazardous for human and animal health.
Earlier, Russia imposed a ban on the import of farmed Norwegian fish.
Gordeyev's talks with Pedersen also touched upon illegal fishing in the Barents Sea and the joint management of bio-resources.
"It is necessary to coordinate our actions, as both Russia and Norway are interested in combating poaching and illegal fishing," said Gordeyev.
