Uncooked prawn consignments - Department of Agriculture

Consignments imported under the enhanced import conditions

The department continues to monitor and enforce stringent import conditions to manage the biosecurity risk associated with imported prawns.
All imports of raw prawns must be verified that they have tested free from White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus genotype 1 (YHV1) both off-shore and again on arrival in Australia.
These import arrangements facilitate the safe trade in uncooked prawns and prawn products while the department undertakes a review of the biosecurity risks of, and import conditions for, prawns and prawn products for human consumption (this includes unprocessed raw prawns, marinated prawns, and Australian prawns processed overseas).
If a consignment returns a positive test result, it is not released from biosecurity control. Importers have the option to request a retest through the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, export, treat (i.e. cook) or destroy the consignment.
The department provides feedback to trading partners on positive detections to support their investigations and in turn reduce incidences of disease-positive product being exported to Australia.
The enhanced import conditions will remain in place until the department's review of the biosecurity risks of, and import conditions for, prawns and prawn products for human consumption is finalised.

Summary of total uncooked prawn consignments

Date	Summary
10 September 2019	1388 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 22 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 22 consignments have since been exported
02 August 2019	1294 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 22 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 22 consignments have since been exported
26 June 2019	1210 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 21 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 21 consignments have since been exported
1 Feb 2019	955 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 17 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 17 consignments have since been exported.
30 July 2018	535 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 12 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 12 consignments have since been exported.
29 June 2018	485 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 12 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 12 consignments have since been exported.
31 May 2018	457 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 12 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 12 consignments have since been exported.
27 April 2018	410 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 8 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 8 consignments have since been exported.
23 March 2018	382 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 6 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 6 consignments have since been exported.
23 February 2018	345 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 4 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 4 consignments have since been exported.
9 February 2018	308 commercial consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 3 consignments of imported prawns have tested positive for WSSV since trade has recommenced. All 3 consignments have since been exported.
25 January 2018	282 consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 3 consignments of imported prawns tested positive for WSSV while held under biosecurity control. All 3 consignments have since been exported.
12 January 2018	250 commercial consignments have been imported under the enhanced import conditions. 3 consignments of imported prawns have tested positive for WSSV since trade has recommenced. All 3 consignments have since been exported.