The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Department) is the Australian government authority responsible for export registration, inspection and certification of Australian food and agricultural exports.

All premises involved in the production of fish and fish products for export, including fishing vessels where fish is prepared for export must be registered with the Department. For more information or assistance with the export registration process contact the Department's Dairy, Eggs and Fish program at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.

Exceptions to establishment registration

Preparation of goods at an export registered establishment and an export permit is not required if you are exporting the following as these goods are not prescribed under the Export Control (Fish & Fish products) Rules 2021;

1. liquid fish and liquid fish products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
2. dried fish and dried fish products (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 2 kilograms;
3. fish products where fish or fish products are not the major component;
4. fish or fish products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
5. fish or fish products not covered by paragraphs (a) to (d) (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 10 kilograms;
6. fish or fish products in the form of a tablet or capsule;

Note

However, if Mexico requires a government certificate for the entry of the above goods, a certificate can be issued by the Department – provided that the goods have been prepared in an export registered establishment.

​​The Department has no knowledge of fish or fish products that are prohibited for import to Mexico.

Australia has market access for fish and fish products under tariff codes 0302, 0303, 0304 and 0305. This includes:

• 0302 Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304
• 0303 Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304
• 0304 Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen
• 0305 Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; flours, meals and pellets of fish, fit for human consumption.

In summary, fish (all species):

• whole, steaks and other meat (including minced)
• refrigerated, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine
• smoked (including cooked before, or during, smoking).

The National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA), is the Competent Authority for the importation of fish in Mexico.

These requirements are entitled Consultation module of requirements for the importation of aquaculture and fishing goods. The website is in Spanish. Google chrome can be used to translate it.

Sourcing of fish and fish products

Mexico has no known specific requirements for sourcing of fish and fish products that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles

Australia does not have access to export crocodile to Mexico.

​​Mexico has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of fish and fish products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Mexico or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Mexico and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Mexico standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the Mexico ​MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

​​Mexico has no known specific requirements for operational hygiene that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Mexico has no known specific requirements for premises and equipment that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Mexico has no known specific requirements for the preparation of live fish that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Mexico has no known specific requirements for the preparation of non-viable fish that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Australia does not have access to export crocodile to Mexico.

​​The merchandise must be arranged on pallets or platforms that allow 100% deconsolidation (that is, wrapped and/or strapped), for product inspection and analysis.

The containers must be free of organic residues, both inside and outside, with cooling equipment and an anti-runoff system, in case the merchandise requires it.

In case of non-compliance with these provisions, the import of the goods will not be authorised for entry to Mexico.

Mexico has no known specific requirements for labelling, that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico has no known specific requirements for shelf life that differ from of the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Mexico has no known specific requirements for shipping marks that differ from of the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Mexico has no known specific requirements for refrigeration, transfer and loadout that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​Exporters should confirm with their importer if an import permit is required for their product.

Authorised ports of entry

Finfish

The following are the authorised ports of entry for finfish:

• Aduana de Carga en el AICM,B.C.
• EnsenadaB.C.
• MexicaliB.C.
• TijuanaChih.
• Cd. JuárezChis
• Cd. HidalgoCol.
• ManzanilloMich.
• Lázaro CárdenasQ. Roo
• CancúnQ. Roo
• Subteniente LópezQ. Roo.
• Puerto MorelosSin.
• MazatlánSon.
• NogalesTamps.
• AltamiraTamps.
• Cd. ReynosaTamps.
• Nuevo LaredoVer.
• VeracruzYuc
• Progreso

Frozen lobster

The following are the authorised ports of entry for frozen lobster:

• Cancun International Airport
• Chetumal International Airport
• Chetumal International Bridge Veracruz International Airport
• Veracruz International Port
• Merida International Airport
• Progresso International Port.

Inspection of finfish product(s) for parasites

For the import of finfish products into Mexico, there is an inspection on arrival for parasites. If detected, the consignment remains at port until the parasite is identified and the degree of threat is assessed.

If the presence of parasites is detected in the goods:

1. The Agricultural Health Inspection Office (OISA) shall inform the state representation of the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) by means of an official letter.
2. COFEPRIS assesses and gives instructions to the importer on how to proceed. If the parasite is deemed a low hazard, the shipment can be released
3. The shipment shall be released to the final destination.

Live finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, gastropods, cephalopods and tunicates

Australia does not have access to Mexico for live seafood.

Non-viable finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods, cephalopods and tunicates

Australia has access for non-viable finfish and frozen lobster. There is no access for any of the following non-viable seafood:

• molluscs
• echinoderms
• cephalopods
• tunicates
• crustaceans, other than frozen lobster.

Non-viable finfish

Non-viable finfish (all species) including whole, steaks and other meat (including minced); refrigerated, frozen, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked (including, cooked before or during smoking) can be exported to Mexico without government certification.

Exporters will still need to use NEXDOC to raise a request for export (REX) and receive an export permit for the goods. The NC1 template is used when no certificate is required when raising an REX to COMP, without receiving an export certificate.

Requirements to be met by the importer at the Mexican Agricultural Health Inspection Office (OISA) upon presentation of the shipment include an invoice to be submitted stating the following:

1. Name and address of the importer and exporter
2. Quantity (kg)
3. Scientific and/or Australian Fish Name of the species to be imported
4. Lot number or identification
5. Presentation (that is, frozen)

These requirements are entitled Consultation module of requirements for the importation of aquaculture and fishing goods. The website is in Spanish. Google chrome can be used to translate it.

Frozen lobsters

For the export of frozen lobsters, use FX46 certificate with the embedded endorsement: 5243.

The lobsters were caught in Australian waters and the fishery is regulated by the relevant government authority in Australia.

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed goods described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Fit for human consumption
3. Of Australian origin.

There is no agreed certification for import of crocodile meat into Mexico.

The Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021 does not regulate fish and fish products not for human consumption. Establishments processing such products are not required to be export registered with the Department unless it is a requirement of the importing country. Exporters are encouraged to confirm the eligibility and import requirements of their product with their importer, or directly with the importing country competent authority prior to export.

Importing countries may require a health certificate be provided for fish and fish products not for human consumption. If a health certificate is required, contact the Department's non-prescribed goods program at NPGExports@aff.gov.au for further information.

The Department is not aware of any prohibited fish products. Additional information relating to fish and fish products not for human consumption may also be found on the corresponding Meat Micor page. Exporters should check with their importers to determine if the products are permitted for import to Mexico.