MAA 2025-03: Fish and fish products: New Zealand: Updated certification for Australian Salmonid products exported to New Zealand from 20 May 2025

Date of issue: 8 May 2025

Date of effect: 20 May 2025

Reference Number: MAA 2025-03

Attention

• Industry bodies – Seafood Industry Australia, Seafood Trade Advisory Group, Seafood Export Consultative Committee
• Seafood Product Export Establishments
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Central and Regional offices
• Exporters, AEPI and NEXDOC users

Purpose

This Market Access Advice (MAA) informs stakeholders of updated certification available for Salmonid products exported to New Zealand. The new certification will be available in the next export documentation (NEXDOC) system from 20 May 2025.

Summary of key points

The department has developed four new product category endorsements for use with the electronic NZEXF health certificate template. These product categories align with New Zealand’s Import Health Standard for Aquatic Animal Products and support the streamlined border clearance of Australian salmonid products.

Exporters of salmonid products to New Zealand must select one of the following four product category endorsements: 

Note

Endorsement 8111 for Salmonid fillets or steaks applies to product not commercially packaged for retail sale.

Only one product category endorsement can be selected per Health certificate.

Separate Health certificates will be required for each product category endorsement.

In addition to the salmonid product category details, endorsements 8111, 8112, 8113 and 8114 contain the following Zoosanitary information:

1. The product for export is derived from fish within the family Salmonidae.
2. The product for export is derived from fish that were harvested from a population for which a documented health surveillance programme exists which is administered by a competent government-authorised agency.
3. The product for export is derived from fish that were not slaughtered as an official disease control measure as a result of an outbreak of disease.
4. During processing the fish were:
   1. individually inspected and graded, ensuring the product for export is free from visible lesions associated with infectious disease and fit for human consumption.
5. The product is derived from salmonid fish that were processed in premises under the supervision of a competent government-authorised regulatory agency with responsibility for food safety standards during processing of fish for export.

Import permits

In addition to health certificates, import permits are required for the following product category endorsements:

• 8113 - Salmonid product commercially packaged for direct retail sale with a net content of greater than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre.
• 8114 - Salmonid fish product is gutted (and does not satisfy another category).

Transitional Facilities

Salmonid products using product category endorsement 8114 must be directed to a New Zealand approved Transitional Facility for further processing. For more information, refer to New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Micor

The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity-specific email that lists changes that have been made the preceding week.

Further information

Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.

The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.