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.​

Some products exported to New Zealand may be done so under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) and do not require health certification. Such exports are exempt from export registration requirements.

For some fish and fish products exported to New Zealand, the New Zealand Import Health Standard for Aquatic Animal products (the IHS) requires certification under the Export Control (Fish & Fish Product) Rules 2021.

If certification is required, the products must be sourced, prepared and exported in an establishment (including fishing vessels) that is registered by the Department and in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Fish & Fish Products) Rules 2021. For more information or assistance with the export registration process contact the departments Dairy, Eggs and Fish Program at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.

Exceptions to establishment list and overseas 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;
7. (g) some fish or fish products for export to New Zealand.
   

Live fish

New Zealand has not developed Import Health Standards for any live fish (marine or freshwater origin) exported from Australia. In the absence of Import Health Standards, these goods are not permitted to be imported into New Zealand.​​

Sourcing of fish and fish products

Not all fish and fish products can be exported to New Zealand. Refer to Section 1.3 and 1.4 for information and Part 2 - General Processing Requirements of New Zealand’s Import Health Standard - Aquatic Animal Products.

Sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles

New Zealand has no known additional requirements for sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles that differ from those required by the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021​.

New Zealand has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of fish and fish products that differ from those required in the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

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

Food business operators should note that:

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

New Zealand has no known specific operational hygiene requirements that differ from those required by the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has no known additional requirements for premises and equipment that differ from those required in the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has not developed Import Health Standards for any live fish and fish products (marine or freshwater origin) exported from Australia. In the absence of Import Health Standards, these goods are not permitted to be imported into New Zealand.

Salmonids fish products​

Salmonid products, including Atlantic salmon may be exported to New Zealand in any form provided the gut has been removed. Salmonid products must be accompanied by a health certificate, unless the product is packed for retail sale and has a net content of less than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre.

An import permit is required for all salmonid products that are packed for retail sale and has a net content of more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre. All other salmonid products must be imported directly to an approved transitional facility for further processing and be accompanied by an import permit that lists the relevant transitional facility.

For further information on the import requirements for salmonid products, including for further processed products and specific documentation requirements see section 2.1 of the IHS.

Information on transitional facilities can be found on New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Information on applying for an import permit can be found on MPIs website.

Non-salmonid fish products - straddling

All non-salmonid straddling fish and fish products (including whole fish) may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when the consignment is accompanied by an exporter’s declaration that the fish was caught in one or both of the following fisheries:

1. a) Lord Howe Rise Deepwater Fishery
2. b) Macquarie Island Fishery Zone

Non-salmonid fish products from other locations in Australia

Eviscerated non-salmonid fish and fish products caught in other locations in Australia, derived from fish species belonging to families listed in Schedule 3 of the IHS, may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals where the exporting country is free from the risk organisms listed in Schedule 3 of the IHS for the relevant family of the fish species. The product must be accompanied by a negotiated health certificate naming the fish species.

Low-risk non-salmonid fish products from Australia

Whole non-salmonid fish and fish products derived from non-salmonid fish listed in schedules 4, 5 or 6 of the IHS may be imported to New Zealand from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals.

• Fish or fish products from Australia must be accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Non-salmonid fish for further processing in New Zealand

Whole non-salmonid fish may be imported from Australia for further processing in New Zealand when accompanied by an import permit. The non-salmonid fish must be processed in accordance with Schedule 9 of the IHS at the transitional facility listed on the import permit.

Non-salmonid fish skin-off fillets

Non-salmonid fish skin-off fillets may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Heat-treated non-salmonid fish products.

Heat-treated non-salmonid fish products may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Dried non-salmonid fish products

Dried non-salmonid fish products may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Non-salmonid fish products commercially packaged for direct retail sale

1.0 kg or 1.0 litre net weight or less

Non-salmonid fish products commercially packaged with a net content of not more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre for direct retail sale can be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

More than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre net weight

Non-salmonid fish products commercially packaged with a net content of more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre for direct retail sale can be imported for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration and an import permit.

For further information see section 2.2.8 of the IHS.

Crustaceans

Heat-treated crustacean products

Heat-treated crustacean products may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Frozen crustacean products

Frozen crustacean products may be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Chilled crustacean products

For crustacean products shipped in chilled form, the packaging must be labelled with the words “Not to be used as bait or feed for aquatic animals”.

Crustacean products commercially packaged for direct retail sale

1.0 kg or 1.0 litre net weight or less

Crustacean products commercially packaged for direct retail sale and with a net content of not more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre can be imported from Australia for all uses other than as bait or feed for aquatic animals when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

More than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre net weight

Crustacean products commercially packaged for direct retail sale and with a net content of more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre can be imported when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration and an import permit.

Mollusc products

Haliotis spp. (abalone) products

Haliotis species (abaone) products may be imported from Australia where the product is accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Mollusc products other than Haliotis spp. (abalone)

Mollusc products other than Haliotis spp. (abalone) may be imported from Australia when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Echinoderms

Echinoderms may be imported from Australia provided they are commercially packaged for direct retail sale.

Tunicates

Tunicates may be imported from Australia provided they are commercially packaged for direct retail sale.

Cnidarian (jellyfish) products

Cnidarian (jellyfish) products may be imported from Australia provided they are commercially packaged for direct retail sale.

Marine annelid (segmented worms) products

Marine annelid (segmented worms) products may be imported from Australia provided they are commercially packaged for direct retail sale.

Aquatic animal meal and aquatic animal oil products for uses other than bait or animal feed

Aquatic animal meal and aquatic animal oil products may be imported from Australia when accompanied by an exporter’s declaration.

Crocodile is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and requires wildlife trade certificate. Eligibility for importation of crocodile can be found in the Import Health Standard For Crocodile Meat Products From Australia . New Zealand import eligibility for crocodile meet from Australia is restricted to farmed product.

Fish and fish products for human consumption

New Zealand has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Crustacean products shipped in chilled form, the packaging must be labelled with the words “Not to be used as bait or feed for aquatic animals”.

New Zealand has no known specific requirements for use-by dates and/or shelf-life restrictions in addition to those provided in the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

New Zealand has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).

New Zealand has no known specific requirements for shipping and airfreight in addition to those provided in the Food Standards Code or Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.

Some products commercially packaged for direct retail sale with a net content of more than 1.0 kg or 1.0 litre may require an import permit. Exporters should review the import conditions in the applicable section of New Zealand’s Import Health Standard to confirm if an import permit is required for the product.

Marine Fisheries products for human consumption

Upon arrival in New Zealand the documentation accompanying the consignment shall be inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival. The Inspector may also inspect or sample of the consignment.

New Zealand has not developed Import Health Standards for any live fish and fish products marine or freshwater origin exported from Australia. In the absence of Import Health Standards, these goods are not permitted to be imported into New Zealand.

Salmonids

For salmonoid products requiring health certification, not including those that are retorted and shelf-stable, use an NZEXF with endorsement 524.

The NZEXF 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 524 – New Zealand - of the Family Salmonidae

Zoosanitary information:

1. The product for export is derived from fish within the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo and/or Salvelinus.
2. The product for export is derived from fish that were harvested from a population for which a documented health surveillance programme exists which is administered by a competent government-authorised agency.
3. The product for export is derived from fish that were not slaughtered as an official disease control measure as a result of an outbreak of disease.
4. During processing the fish were:
   1. eviscerated, and
   2. individually inspected and graded, ensuring the product for export is free from visible lesions associated with infectious disease and fit for human consumption.

As crocodiles are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) species database, you must apply for a permit in order to export from Australia. If you do not obtain a permit before the consignment is exported, it may be detained. 

For crocodile meat, use NZEXF with endorsement 523.

NZEXF 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 523 – New Zealand Crocodile

1. The meat was derived from crocodiles farmed and slaughtered in Australia.
2. The products are derived from farmed crocodiles of Australian origin and processed in accordance with the Australian Standard for Hygienic Production of Crocodile Meat for Human Consumption.

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. Exporters should check with their importers to determine if their products are permitted for import into New Zealand.