​​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 (excluding catcher boats) 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. (a) liquid fish and liquid fish products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
2. (b) dried fish and dried fish products (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 2 kilograms;
3. (c) fish products where fish or fish products are not the major component;
4. (d) fish or fish products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
5. (e) 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. (f) 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.​​​​​​​​

Further to above, for the export of Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish intended to be consumed raw, the Department has been advised by MHLW that where an exporter address differs from a processing establishment address, the exporter must also be approved by MHLW. This is in addition to the requirement that all Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish exported to Japan be sourced from processing establishments approved for this market.

Note

The above processing establishment listing requirement does not apply to the export of scallops provided that the final product is solely the adductor muscle of a scallop.

Live Cherax species (yabbies, red claw and marron) are not permitted into Japan unless an import permit has been issued.

Note

Only harvest areas approved by the Department for export can supply shellfish for export to Japan.

* Live Cherax species (yabbies, red claw and marron) are not permitted into Japan unless there is a specific import permit produced.

Sourcing of fish and fish products

Japan 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 the export of crocodile meat into Japan.

Residues – Agvet chemicals and contaminants

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

Food business operators should note that:

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

Under the provisions of Japan’s Food Sanitation Law, for chemicals where an MRL has not been established, the provisional MRL of 0.01 parts per million (ppm) applies.

Food additives

The Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation publishes the Standards for Use of Food Additives which provides the MRL of the food additives permissible for use in the relevant food categories.

For example, canned abalone products must not exceed 30-ppm sulphur dioxide measured as SO2 by the approved method.

Microbiological requirements

Japan 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.

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

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

To export live Cherax spp. to Japan, it is a requirement that the importer holds a valid import permit. It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure the import requirements are addressed. However, the Department recommends that exporters discuss the import requirements with their importer prior to exporting consignments of live Cherax spp.

Other than above mentioned, Japan 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.

​​Japan 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.

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

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

​​To export to Japan, goods must:

• have a sticker attached to each package after importation showing, in Japanese, a detailed description of the contents, including artificial colours or preservatives, name and address of importer and date of importation.
• Metric measures must be used.

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

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

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

Japan 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.​

​​​Japan requires on-arrival testing (5%) for all bivalve shellfish harvested from South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmanian waters. Bivalve shellfish harvested from all other Australian states remain subject to 100 per cent testing for PST on arrival in Japan.

Live seafood except live mussels, oysters, pipis, clams, cockles, yabbies, red claw and marron

For live seafood, with the exception of live mussels, oysters, pipis, clams, cockles, yabbies, red claw and marron, use an FX46 Certificate as to Condition.

The FX46 Certificate as to Condition 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

Live mussels, pipis, clams and cockles

For live mussels, pipis, clams and cockles, use an FX46J Certificate as to Condition.

The FX46J Certificate as to Condition 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

Live oysters

For live oysters, use an FX46J Certificate as to Condition with additional endorsement 5239.

The FX46J Certificate as to Condition 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 5239

The fish and fish products on this certificate were processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with the laws and regulations of Australia. The laws and regulations of Australia have been deemed to be equivalent to Japan’s Food Sanitation Law and the relevant regulations of Japan.

Live yabbies, red claw and marron

Live Cherax species (yabbies, red claw and marron) are not permitted into Japan unless there is a specific import permit produced.

Non-viable seafood, except mussels, oysters, pipis, clams and cockles, yabbies, red claw and marron

For eligible non-viable seafood, with the exception of mussels, oysters, pipis, clams and cockles, yabbies, red claw and marron, use an FX46 Certificate as to condition.

The FX46 Certificate as to Condition 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

Non-viable mussels, pipis, clams and cockles

For non-viable mussels, pipis, clams and cockles, use an FX46J Certificate as to Condition.

The FX46J Certificate as to Condition 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

Non-viable oysters

For non-viable oysters, use an FX46J Certificate as to Condition with additional endorsement 5239.

The FX46J Certificate as to Condition 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 5239

The fish and fish products on this certificate were processed under sanitary conditions in accordance with the laws and regulations of Australia. The laws and regulations of Australia have been deemed to be equivalent to Japan's Food Sanitation Law and the relevant regulations of Japan.

Non-viable yabbies, red claw and marron

For non-viable yabbies, red claw and marron, use an FXJP01 Certificate as to Condition.

The FXJP01 Certificate as to Condition 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

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

​​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 Japan.

​​Non-prescribed goods are not regulated by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.​