Prawns and Prawn Products

We completed an import risk analysis of prawns and prawn products (prawn IRA) in 2009.

Steps to complete this risk analysis

When we do a risk analysis, we:

• start the risk analysis by reviewing the science on pests and diseases of concern
• assess and analyse biosecurity risks
• develop proposed risk management measures
• consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
• publish a final report
• develop import conditions
• publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) 

Since 2017, conditions for importing prawns and prawn products have progressively changed.  Stakeholders were advised of these changes via Biosecurity Advice 2020-A03, Biosecurity Advice 2018-15 and Biosecurity Advice 2017-12.

Check the current conditions for importing prawns and prawn products in BICON. You can also register in BICON to receive an alert if conditions change.

A comprehensive risk review of all conditions for importing prawns and prawn products for human consumption is underway and the report will be published on this page when completed.

Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.

About the 2009 prawn IRA

We recommended that the import of prawns and prawn products for human consumption be allowed subject to compliance with specified risk management measures.

The final report detailed:

• diseases of biosecurity concern
• risk assessments for the identified diseases
• recommended risk management measures.

Diseases

The final report named disease agents that need risk management measures.  These are:

• white spot syndrome virus
• yellow head virus genotype 1
• Taura syndrome virus
• ‘Candidatus Hepatobacter penaei' (previously known as necrotising hepatopancreatitis bacterium) — for unfrozen product.

Risk management measures

In summary, required risk management measures included:

• country or zone freedom from above diseases
• diagnostic testing for white spot syndrome virus and yellow head virus genotype 1
• head and shell removal
• further processing such as being breaded, battered or crumbed
• cooked to a level that all the protein in the prawn meat has coagulated and no raw prawn meat remains.

Download final report

Biosecurity Australia, 2009

Document	Pages	File size
Generic import risk analysis report for prawns and prawn products PDF	305	1.2 MB
Generic import risk analysis report for prawns and prawn products DOC	305	3.8 MB
Final generic import risk analysis (IRA) report for prawns and prawn products- appeal findings

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for help.

Download supporting documents

Document	Pages	File size
National survey of bait and berley use by recreational fishers: A follow-up survey focussing on prawns/shrimps, Kewagama report to Biosecurity Australia, January 2007 PDF	206	1.0 MB
Summary of TSV infection challenges PDF	10	88 KB
Summary of TSV infection challenges DOC	10	182 KB
National survey of bait and berley use by recreational fishers, Kewagama report to Biosecurity Australia, January 2002 PDF	144	1.6 MB
National survey of bait and berley use by recreational fishers, Kewagama report to Biosecurity Australia, January 2002 DOC	144	713 KB

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for help.

Register as a stakeholder

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Contact us

For more information about this review email Animal Biosecurity.