Christmas Island (CX)
Fish products for human consumption
1.1 Establishment registration
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;
- liquid fish and liquid fish products exported in a consignment of not more than 10 litres;
- dried fish and dried fish products (other than dried abalone) exported in a consignment of not more than 2 kilograms;
- fish products where fish or fish products are not the major component;
- fish or fish products that are animal food or pharmaceutical material;
- 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;
- fish or fish products in the form of a tablet or capsule;
- Note
- However, if Christmas Island 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.
1.2 Overseas listing
| Initial listing procedure for fish products for human consumption | Required? |
|---|---|
| *The Department is not aware of specific listing requirements for Christmas Island, Exporters are encouraged to work with their importer to confirm importing country requirements. | |
| Establishment listing for Christmas Island | No* |
1.3 Prohibited products
The Department has no knowledge of fish or fish products that are prohibited for import to Christmas Island.
1.4 Access for fish products for human consumption
| Product | Access? |
|---|---|
| Finfish | No agreed certification |
| Bivalves (for example, oysters, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams, cockles, abalone, whelks, snails) | No agreed certification |
| Crustaceans (for example, crab, prawn, lobster, scampi, crayfish) | No agreed certification |
| Echinoderms (for example, sea urchins, sea cucumber) | No agreed certification |
| Gastropods (for example, abalone, periwinkles) | No agreed certification |
| Cephalopods (for example, squid, cuttlefish, octopus) | No agreed certification |
| Tunicates (for example, sea squirts) | No agreed certification |
| Crocodile | No agreed certification |
2.1 Harvest
Sourcing of fish and fish products
Christmas Island 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
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for sourcing, slaughter and post-mortem inspection of crocodiles that differ from the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
2.2 Microbial and residue sampling
Christmas Island 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.
Christmas Island 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 Christmas Island or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Christmas Island and Australia.
Food business operators should note that:
- These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Christmas Island standards and the Australian standards.
- Any detection of a residue above the Christmas Island 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.
2.3 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for operational hygiene that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
2.4 Premises and equipment
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for premises and equipment that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.1 Live fish
Christmas Island 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.
3.2 Non-viable fish
Christmas Island 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.
3.3 Crocodile
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for the preparation of crocodile products for human consumption that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.4 Packaging
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for packaging, that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.5 Labelling
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for labelling, that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.6 Shelf life
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for shelf life that differ from of the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
4.1 Shipping marks
Christmas Island has no known specific requirements for shipping marks that differ from of the relevant Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
4.2 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout
Christmas Island 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.
5.1 Import permit
Exporters should confirm with their importer if an import permit is required for their product.
5.2 Port of entry inspection and testing
6.1 Live fish
There is no agreed certification for import of live fish into Christmas Island.
6.2 Non-viable fish
There is no agreed certification for import of non-viable fish into Christmas Island.
6.3 Crocodiles
There is no agreed certification for import of crocodile meat into Christmas Island.
Fish products not for human consumption
1.1 Establishment registration
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.
1.2 Overseas listing
| Initial listing procedure for fish products not for human consumption | Required? |
|---|---|
| Establishment listing for Christmas Island | No |
1.3 Prohibited products
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 Christmas Island.
1.4 Access for fish products not for human consumption
| Product | Access? |
|---|---|
| Aquaculture feed | No agreed certification |
| Animal feed | No agreed certification |
| Crocodile skins and hides | No agreed certification |
| Technical products and pharmaceutical material (for example, fish oil capsule) | No agreed certification |
| Rendered products | No agreed certification |
| Shells | No agreed certification |
The Department is not aware of the requirements for animal feed. 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 requirements with their importer or the Christmas Island competent authority prior to shipping any animal feed to Christmas Island.
The Department is not aware of the requirements for crocodile skins and hides. 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 requirements with their importer or the Christmas Island competent authority prior to shipping any rendered products to Christmas Island.
The Department is not aware of the production requirements for rendered 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 production requirements with their importer or the Christmas Island competent authority prior to shipping any rendered products to Christmas Island.
The Department is not aware of the production requirements for technical grade and pharmaceutical 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 production requirements with their importer or the Christmas Island competent authority prior to shipping any technical products or pharmaceutical material to Christmas Island.
14/08/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
01/05/2023 - Page first published.
01/05/2023 - Page first published.