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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Import
  4. Importing goods
  5. Food
  6. Food type
  7. Histamine susceptible fish

Sidebar first - Import

  • Import requirements by food type
    • Importing food from New Zealand
    • Arachnids
    • Beef and beef products
    • Beef and beef products - raw
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    • Cheese - raw milk
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    • Crustaceans
    • Crustaceans - cooked
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    • Fish - histamine susceptible
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Histamine susceptible fish

Improving access to imported food safety requirements

From mid-2025 imported food safety requirements will be incorporated into the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

See more about the Inclusion of food safety requirements in BICON.

All biosecurity requirements must be met before Imported Food Inspection Scheme requirements apply.

Check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) for biosecurity import conditions.

We classify imported food that presents a potential medium or high risk to public health as risk food. All risk food is listed in the Imported Food Control Order 2019.

Fish and fish products of a particular kind are classified as risk food

Fish of the families listed are considered histamine susceptible fish. This includes all fish in the families:

  • Carangidae (for example, trevallies, jacks and pompanos)
  • Clupeidae (for example, herrings, sardines)
  • Coryphaenidae (for example, mahi-mahi)
  • Engraulidae (for example, anchovy)
  • Pomatomidae (for example, bluefish)
  • Scomberesocidae (for example, king gars and saury)
  • Scombridae (for example, tuna, mackerel and bonito).

Fish products that contain more than 300 g per kg of all or any of the fish in the families listed are also risk foods.

Fish and fish products classified as risk food may be whole, fillets or in portions. This includes fish and fish products that are:

  • raw (fresh, chilled or frozen)
  • processed (cooked, smoked, dried and pickled)
  • retorted and shelf stable.

Exclusions

Food from New Zealand.

Declaring certificates

When lodging a Full Import Declaration (FID), use the correct ICS document code and certificate number for the food.

See lodging declarations and documentation.

Community Protection (CP) question

You will need to answer this CP question when lodging your full import declaration:

IFIS: Are the goods or do the goods contain more than 300 g/kg (30%) of fish of the family Scombridae, Coryphaenidae, Pomatomidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae or Scomberesociadae? For more information search ‘histamine susceptible fish’ at www.agriculture.gov.au.

Inspection and testing

We refer consignments of fish and fish products of the families listed for analytical testing. During inspection, we will also conduct a visual and label assessment. Additional testing may also apply for certain ready-to-eat finfish.

Table 1 shows the test that will be applied and permitted results for each food type.

Table 1, Food type, test applied and permitted result

Food typeTest appliedPermitted result

Fish in the family:

  • Carangidae
  • Clupeidae
  • Coryphaenidae
  • Engraulidae
  • Pomatomidae
  • Scomberesocidae
  • Scombridae

The Australian fish names standard AS SSA 5300 may be used as a reference.

HistamineMaximum level 200 mg/kg

Food safety risks

Food Standard Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has given us advice about the risk of fish and fish products of the families listed are associated with histamine formation. These products present a potential medium or high risk to public health for histamine poisoning.

Voluntary foreign government certification arrangements

We have a voluntary certification arrangement in place with Canada and Thailand for the fish and fish products listed. Consignments of these foods from Canada and Thailand with a recognised government certificate have a reduced rate of inspection and testing.

Certificate requirements

Type of informationTo include
National competent authority:Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Recognised certificate title:Certificate of Origin and Hygiene
ICS document code:CI

Certificate requirements

Type of informationTo include
National competent authority:Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives – Department of Fisheries
Recognised certificate title:Health Certificate for fishery and aquaculture products originating in Thailand
Additional requirement:The certificate must identify that the food has been sourced from an establishment approved by the Department of Fisheries, Thailand.
ICS document code:DOFHCTH

Glossary

Retorted

Animal products are retorted if they are heated in a hermetically sealed container to a minimum core temperature of 100°C, obtaining an F0 value of at least 2.8.

Shelf stable

Goods are shelf-stable if the:

  • goods have been commercially manufactured
  • goods have been packaged by the manufacturer
  • goods are in that package
  • package has not been opened or broken
  • goods are able to be stored in the package at room or ambient temperature, and
  • goods do not require refrigeration or freezing before the package is opened.

Version history

DateReference numberAmendment details
13/02/2023HIS 12/2016Amend the webpage to update the link to the list of fish processing establishments approved by the Department of Fisheries, Thailand.
11/10/2019HIS 12/2016Update to the webpage to include a link to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s fish names database.
08/08/2017HIS 12/2016Update to the webpage to provide additional detail about the sampling of histamine susceptible fish and fish products.
21/12/2016HIS 12/2016Updates the webpage to reflect amendments to the Imported Food Control Order 2001 to classify more species of fish and fish products as risk foods.
01/05/2014SCM 05/2014Replaces Imported Food Notice 09/12 Tests applied to risk category foods

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Page last updated: 28 April 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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