Pufferfish (fugu)

Check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system  (BICON) for biosecurity import conditions and imported food safety requirements.

All biosecurity import conditions must be met before imported food safety requirements apply.

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.

Pufferfish will be classified as risk food requiring certification

From 2 March 2028, pufferfish will be risk food and required to be imported under a government certification arrangement. This includes:

• Pufferfish (fugu) is also known by other common names including globefish, blowfish, balloonfish, swellfish, toadfish and porcupine fish. Pufferfish includes, but is not limited to, fish in the families Tetraodontidae and Diodontidae.
• Pufferfish in any form will be classified as risk food.
• Learn more about how a national competent authority in an exporting country can apply for a foreign government certificate arrangement.

Exclusions

• Food that is not pufferfish only (for example, a mixed food where pufferfish is an ingredient).
• Food from New Zealand.

Certification arrangements

No foreign government certification arrangements are currently in place.

Inspection

From 2 March 2028, all consignments will be checked to verify the validity of the government certificate. In addition to certification, 5% of consignments will be referred for inspection.

During inspection we will conduct a visual and label assessment.

Additional requirements also apply to specific seafood. See the webpage for Processed finfish.

Food safety risks

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has published advice about the risk of pufferfish.

Pufferfish presents a potential medium or high risk to public health for tetrodotoxin (TTX) and when it is processed and ready-to-eat, as a finfish it presents a potential medium or high risk for Listeria monocytogenes.

To manage hazards, processors must have specialised skills and knowledge in species identification, toxin hazard management, and safe preparation techniques.

To make sure there are food safety controls in place to manage these hazards, we will require recognised foreign government certificates for imports of this food.

Glossary

Competent authority

The government authority or official body authorised by the government that is responsible for the setting of regulatory food safety requirements and/or for the organization of official controls including enforcement.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX)

An extremely potent hydrophilic neurotoxin produced by aquatic microorganisms that accumulates in pufferfish species. TTX is odourless and heat-stable, and is not reduced by cooking, rinsing, cleaning, or freezing.

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