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 ab​ove goods, a certificate can be issued by the department – provided that the goods have been prepared in an export registered establishment.

Registered storage and processing establishments (including export registered processing vessels) exporting fish and fish products to the Republic of Korea may be required to register with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service (NFQS). Please contact your Korean importer to ensure all required registrations are complete.​​

Please note that the NFQS registration period is 2 years and a request to extend validity must be made at least 7 days before expiration to maintain registration. Export establishments requiring renewal should request this through their importer.

​​South Korea has prohibited the use of oil fish and escolar for human consumption. Therefore, these fish species are prohibited from export.

The following products for human consumption cannot be exported to the South Korea:

• Frozen fish heads as covered by HS Code 0303;
• Frozen fish visceral by-products covered by HS Codes 0303, 0306, 0307, including products such as edible roe, hard roe and squid nidamental glands.

Exporters of chilled product are encouraged to seek clarification from their imported on product import eligibi​lity with their importer as to eligibility prior to export.

Sourcing of fish and fish products

South Korea 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

There is no agreed certification for crocodile meat to South Korea.​​

On 1 July 2018, South Korea implemented a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for isoeugenol (active ingredient of AQUI-S Aquatic Anaesthetic) of 0.01 mg/kg.

On 3 July 2019, South Korea implemented a MRL for Ethoxyquin and Ethoxyquin dimer of 1mg/kg in fish and 0.2mg/kg in crustaceans. Follow the below instructions to view on Korea’s Food Safety website:​

• Access the following link: 잔류물질정보.
• Select “English” in the top right hand corner of the webpage
• Type Ethoxyquin in the search bar which says “Please enter pesticide name”
• ​Click on “Ethoxyquin” under Pesticide name (English)
  

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

Food business operators should note that:

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

​​South Korea has no known additional requirements for specific operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

South Korea 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.

​​South Korea 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.

South Korea 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.

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

South Korea has no known specific requirements for labelling that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

​​South Korea has no known specific requirements for Shelf life that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

​​South Korea 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 South Korea Exporters should confirm requirements with their importer or agent.

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

​​For the export of eligible live seafood, use EXKRF1 certificate.

Embedded endorsement

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. Australia maintains a system that meets OIE requirements for the notification of diseases and epidemiological information in aquatic animals and on this basis can certify that the prescribed goods described above have been sourced from a zone/area(s) free from infection from the following:
   • Aquatic animal novel diseases specific to crustaceans: Necrotising Hepatopancreatitis (NHP), Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) and Decapod Iridescent Virus 1 (DIV1) for susceptible animal species relevant to Australia.
   • Aquatic ​animal diseases specific to finfish: Salmonid Alphavirus (SAV) and Tilapia ​Lake Virus (TiLV) are not applicable to the prescribed goods described above.
4. In respect of farmed aquatic animals, these were examined prior to harvest​ing for processing or transport and found to be healthy
   
5. Of Australian Origin

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

For the export of eligible non-viable seafood, use EXKRF1 ​certificate.

Embedded endorsement

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. Australia maintains a system that meets OIE requirements for the notification of diseases and epidemiological information in aquatic animals and on this basis can certify that the prescribed goods described above have been sourced from a zone/area(s) free from infection from the following:
   • Aquatic animal novel diseases specific to crustaceans: Necrotising Hepatopancreatitis (NHP), Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) and Decapod Iridescent Virus 1 (DIV1) for susceptible animal species relevant to Australia.
   • Aquatic animal diseases specific to finfish: Salmonid Alphavirus (SAV) and Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) are not applicable to the prescribed goods described above.
4. In respect of farmed aquatic animals, these were examined prior to harvesting for processing or transport and found to be healthy
5. Of Australian Origin

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

​​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 South Korea.