Aquatic animal export: certification requirements for Australia

The following certificates are available:

• Aquatic Animal Health Certificate for the Export of Aquatic Animals for Use as Bait or Aquaculture Feed from Canada to Australia (AQAH-1012)
• Aquatic Animal Health and Sanitary Certificate for the Export of Fresh, Chilled or Frozen Salmonid Products for Human Consumption from Canada to Australia (AQAH-1063)
• Aquatic Animal Health Certificate for the Export of Live Finfish, Their Gametes or Germplasm for Research Purposes from Canada to Australia (AQAH-1075)
• Aquatic Animal Health and Sanitary Certificate for the Export of Thermally Treated Salmonid Products for Human Consumption from Canada to Australia (AQAH-1098)

Important notes:

• Certificate (AQAH-1063) only applies to the export of fresh, chilled and frozen salmonid products (not including thermally treated products) for human consumption. This commodity requires an inspection by a CFIA Veterinary Inspector of the products. Exporters are advised that in order to be eligible for certification to Australia they must contact their CFIA Area Office at least 5 business days in advance of export to determine the requirements and accommodate the scheduling of inspections.
• At this time, only fresh, chilled and frozen salmonid products of Canadian origin are eligible for export to Australia. Processors will need to provide documentation to demonstrate that they do not import salmon for further processing from countries other than Australia, Denmark, Norway, Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America or provide adequate records demonstrating effective controls to prevent substitution, comingling or contamination with imported salmonid products from countries other than those listed above.
• Australia has advised that starting September 1, 2019, salmonid products imported in a form that requires further processing in Australia will remain under biosecurity control after arrival at an establishment that has entered into an approved arrangement with the Australian authorities. Salmonid products subject to this requirement will only be released from biosecurity control after it has been transformed into a consumer ready form.
• Salmonid products that meet the Australian definition of a consumer ready form and are packaged and clearly labelled in accordance with this definition will not be subject to these additional biosecurity conditions.
• Exporters of salmonid products that are in a consumer ready form must assume full responsibility for ensuring their consignments meet Australia's consumer ready packaging and labelling conditions, and are advised to work with their importer in advance of export and ensure that their consignments are appropriately labelled to meet the Australian requirements.
• Australia's definition of a salmonid consumer ready form includes:
  • cutlets, including the central bone and external skin but excluding fins, each cutlet weighing no more than 450 grams;
  • skin-on or skinless fillets, excluding the belly flap and all bone except the pin bones, of any weight;
  • eviscerated, headless fish, each fish weighing no more than 450 grams; or
  • product that is processed further than described above.
• Certificate (AQAH-1098) only applies to the export of thermally treated salmonid products for human consumption. Exporters are advised that in order to be eligible for certification to Australia they must contact their CFIA Area Office at least 5 business days in advance of export to determine the requirements.
• Currently, certificate (AQAH-1012) only applies to the export of herring (Clupea species) for use as bait or aquaculture feed. This commodity requires inspection of the animals prior to processing. Exporters are advised to contact their CFIA Area Office in advance of harvesting to determine the requirements and, if required, accommodate the scheduling of inspections which must occur prior to processing and freezing.
• Australia has aquatic animal health requirements for imports of certain aquatic animals and fish and seafood products. For these specific commodities, until such time as a negotiated aquatic animal health certificate is available, shipments exported without aquatic animal health certification may be detained in Australia.
• There may be existing certificates or additional information from the Fish and Seafood program. However, for the specific commodity above, an aquatic animal health certificate is required.
• To request an export certificate outlined above or if you require any other information on aquatic animal health export certification, please contact your CFIA Area Office.