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 the importing country 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 Hong Kong.

Sourcing of fish and fish products

Hong Kong 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

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for the slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles.

Hong Kong has specific requirements for microbial and residue sampling for Ready-to-eat-Food.

For more information, please refer to Hong Kong website for Centre for Food Safety.

Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Hong Kong and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Hong Kong standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the Hong Kong ​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.

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

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

​​Hong Kong 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.

Hong Kong 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.

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for the preparation of crocodiles that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​​Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for packaging that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for Shelf life that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

Hong Kong has no known specific requirements for refrigeration, transfer and loadout, that differ from of the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

​​The department has no specific knowledge of port-of-entry inspection and testing for imports into Hong Kong. Exporters should confirm requirements with their importer or agent.

Finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods, cephalopods and tunicates

For live seafood, use an FX46HK Certificate with endorsement 4621.

The FX46HK Certificate contains the following attestations:

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

Endorsement 4621 - Fish

1. The aquatic animals or products described above originate from (an) approved farm(s) or establishment(s) that have been approved by, or otherwise determined to be in good regulatory standing with the competent authority in the exporting country;
2. These products have been processed in accordance with Codex Alimentarius Commission Principles for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and relevant codes of hygienic practice;
3. In accordance with the inspection system regulated by the competent authority, the products were found not to contain pathogenic bacteria, harmful or foreign substances or chemicals.
   

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

For non-viable seafood, use an FX46HK Certificate with endorsement 4621.

The FX46HK Certificate contains the following attestations:

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

Additional endorsement 4621

1. The aquatic animals or products described above originate from (an) approved farm(s) or establishment(s) that have been approved by, or otherwise determined to be in good regulatory standing with the competent authority in the exporting country;
2. These products have been processed in accordance with Codex Alimentarius Commission Principles for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and relevant codes of hygienic practice;
3. In accordance with the inspection system regulated by the competent authority, the products were found not to contain pathogenic bacteria, harmful or foreign substances or chemicals.
   

​​For crocodile meat, use the EX326 Certificate.

The EX326 Certificate contains the following attestation:

I hereby certify that the above crocodile flesh or crocodile flesh product, was derived from crocodile killed and processed at premises registered under the Export Control Act​ as an export establishment for the processing of crocodile flesh and has been packaged under sanitary condition and is suitable in every way for human consumption and that no injurious ingredient has been used in its production.

Additional requirements

The consignment must be accompanied by a valid CITES certificate.

If the consignment is transhipped through a country other than Australia in a sealed refrigerated container:

1. the container seal number is to be recorded on the health certificate
2. all refrigeration records are to be provided to Hong Kong authorities if required
3. the shipping company must provide a written statement that the container seal is unbroken and has not been tampered with during the stay in the transit country.

If the consignment is transhipped through a country other than Australia by means other than a sealed refrigerated container:

1. a transhi​pment certificate must be issued for Hong Kong authorities by the country of transit which certifies that the consignment did not suffer spoilage or deterioration.
   

​​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 Hong Kong.