Fish from aquaculture production

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.

Food type

Fish species identified as those used in aquaculture production, fresh, chilled or frozen.

Exclusions

Food from New Zealand.

Inspection and testing

We refer consignments of certain fish species for antimicrobial residue testing at the rate of 5%. During inspection, we will also conduct a visual and label assessment.

See the additional requirements that apply to finfish that is ready-to-eat

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

Table 1, Food type, test applied and permitted result
Food type	Test applied	Permitted result
Identified fish species	Fish antimicrobial residue test Malachite green Malachite green Leucomalachite green Fluoroquinolones Ciprofloxacin Enrofloxacin Gatifloxacin Levofloxacin Moxifloxacin Norfloxacin Ofloxacin Sarafloxacin Quinolones Flumequine Oxolinic acid	No detectable amount permitted. Schedule 20 of the Food Standards Code lists permitted maximum residue limits.

Fish species

The fish identified as species targeted for antimicrobial residue test are listed in the table.

Family name	Common name	Genus (scientific) name
Anguillidae	Eel – European / Japanese/ American	Anguilla spp.
Synbrancidae	Asian swamp eel	Monopterus spp.
Pangasiidae	Basa (Catfish - giant/pangas/striped/shark)	Pangasius spp.
Ariidae	Catfish – numerous species	Arius spp.
Clariidae	Mudfish / catfish	Clarias spp.
Ictaluridae	Channel catfish / Black bullhead	Ictalurus spp.
Plotosidae	Eel tailed catfish	Tandanus spp.
Siluridae	Amur / Japanese catfish	Silurus spp.
Chanidae	Milkfish	Chanos chanos
Channidae	Snakehead / Mudfish	Channa spp.
Cichlidae	Tilapia	Oreochromis spp.
		Sarotherodon spp.
		Tilapia spp.
Cyprinidae	Crucian carp	Carassius carassius
	Catla / Indian carp	Catla spp.
	Carp – Mrigal / Mud	Cirrhinus spp.
	Grass carp	Ctenopharyngodon idellus
	Carp - European / Common	Cyprinus carpio
	Carp – Bighead / Silver	Hypophthalmichthys spp.
	Rohu labeo / Orangefin labeo;	Labeo spp.
	Dace	Leuciscus spp.
	Black carp	Mylopharyngodon piceus
Latidae	Barramundi	Lates calcarifer
Latidae	Nile perch	Lates niloticus
Salmonidae	Salmon – Atlantic / Sea / Danube / Pacific Trout - various	Salmo salar Salmo trutta Oncorhychus spp.
Salmonidae	Arctic char	Salvelinus alpinus

Version history

Date	Amendment details
23/01/2025	Crustaceans moved to a new webpage to clarify different requirements which apply to fish and crustaceans from aquaculture production.
28/01/2022	First version of the webpage published on website.