28 June 2019
New import conditions will apply from 1 September 2019 for salmonid products sourced from approved countries, excluding New Zealand.
From this date, all salmon products must comply with the new conditions to be allowed entry into Australia. We will continue to accept salmon products under the existing import conditions in the interim period.
The new conditions incorporate changes to the existing certification and post entry processing requirements for salmonid products. These changes are outlined in Attachments A and B to this notice.
An alert to the new conditions will be published in BICON at bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0/Home/Notice/. Importers are encouraged to monitor this page to access new information on import requirements.
What has changed?
The new post-entry processing requirements for salmonid products are outlined in Attachment A.
All salmonid product imported in a form that requires further processing in Australia is required to remain under biosecurity control at an establishment that has entered into an Approved Arrangement with the department. Salmonid product subject to this requirement will only be released from biosecurity control after it has been transformed into a consumer ready form (as defined in Attachment A).
In response to stakeholder comments, we have revised the definition of consumer ready to include fillets of any weight. Product in consumer ready form can be sent packaged individually, in plastic sleeves, pouches or other packaging, or as loose pieces in cartons of any weight.
Salmonid product that is imported in a consumer ready form, or has undergone the required thermal treatment offshore as prescribed in correspondence with trading partners on 7 May 2018 and in Attachment B, will be released from biosecurity control at the border and will not be required to be directed to an Approved Arrangement.
Countries currently approved for salmonid production, processing, or both, are also considered approved countries for the import of thermally treated salmonid products [Attachment B, Appendix 2]. All other countries wishing to export thermally treated salmonid products to Australia will need to submit a market access request.
These changes will require amendments to Australia’s model health certificates (Attachment C) for salmonid products sourced, processed and exported from approved countries (excluding New Zealand).
Why are changes needed?
The new post-entry processing requirements are necessary for the effective management of high risk waste material that is generated when imported salmonids are further processed in Australia.
Why is salmonid product from New Zealand excluded from these conditions?
New Zealand is currently approved for the commercial importation of uncanned Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) product for human consumption to Australia. Unlike other approved countries, New Zealand is not currently approved for other species of salmonids and is therefore subject to different post-entry processing requirements.
Approved countries can still process Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) sourced from New Zealand for export to Australia under separate import conditions and source country certification issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries.
Consultation
In October 2018, stakeholders were invited to comment on our proposed new conditions (Biosecurity Advice 2018-26). We considered all comments in finalising the revised policy.
We will contact existing import permit holders individually about implementing the new conditions.
[signed]
Dr Beth Cookson
Assistant Secretary
Animal Biosecurity
Email Animal
Download
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
Attachments A and B – revised requirements DOCX  |
7 | 44 KB |
| Attachment C - Model certification for source country for salmonid products that will be exported to Australia DOCX |
5 | 56 KB |
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