Saudi Arabia (SA)
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
- 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.
1.2 Overseas listing
| Initial listing procedure for products for human consumption | Required? |
|---|---|
| Establishment listing for Saudi Arabia | Yes* |
| *Please note that listing requirements only apply to export establishments preparing non-viable fish and fish products. | |
To export non-viable fish and fish products to Saudi Arabia, processing establishments require listing approval by the Saudi Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).
A list of approved establishments is published on the SFDA website.
Export registered processing establishments and exporters that currently export, or are intending to export, non-viable fish and fish products to Saudi Arabia should ensure the correct establishment details appear on the list prior to export.
Export registered processing establishments wishing to be added to the SFDA list can contact the Department at dairyeggsfish@aff.gov.au.
1.3 Prohibited products
The Department has no knowledge of fish or fish products that are prohibited for import to Saudi Arabia.
1.4 Access for fish products for human consumption
| Product | Access? |
|---|---|
| Finfish | Yes |
| Bivalves (for example, oysters, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams, cockles) | Yes |
| Crustaceans (for example, crab, prawn, lobster, scampi, crayfish) | Yes |
| Echinoderms (for example, sea urchins, sea cucumber) | Yes |
| Gastropods (for example, abalone, periwinkles) | Yes |
| Cephalopods (for example, squid, cuttlefish, octopus) | Yes |
| Tunicates (for example, sea squirts) | Yes |
| Crocodile | No agreed certification |
2.1 Harvest
Sourcing of fish and fish products
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia.
2.2 Microbial and residue sampling
Saudi Arabia 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.
Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Food business operators should note that:
- These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Saudi Arabia standards and the Australian standards.
- Any detection of a residue above the Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
2.4 Premises and equipment
Saudi Arabia has no known specific premises and equipment requirements that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
3.1 Live fish
Saudi Arabia 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. Please note, there is currently no agreed export health certificate for the export of live fishery products to this market.
3.2 Non-viable fish
Saudi Arabia 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
Australia does not have agreed certification in place for the export of crocodile to Saudi Arabia. Exporters should confirm import eligibility and conditions with their importer or agent prior to export.
3.4 Packaging
Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for shelf life that differ from those required by the Export Control (Fish and Fish Products) Rules 2021.
4.1 Shipping marks
Saudi Arabia 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
Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for refrigeration, transfer and loadout, that differ from of the relevant 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 bilaterally agreed export health certification for the export of live fishery products to Saudi Arabia.
If you are interested in this market, please refer to: MAA 2024-12: Fish and Fish Products: Seafood Market Access Prioritisation Framework - DAFF
6.2 Non-viable fish
For non-viable seafood, use FX46SA certificate with endorsement 5147.
FX46SA Embedded endorsement 5147
The products of aquatic animal origin are safe and fit for human consumption. The products of aquatic animal origin are derived from non-toxic species that do not cause any sign of disease. Where aquatic animals are grown in farms or aquaculture production areas, the competent authority has monitored the compliance to sanitary requirements. The aquatic animals have been fed from feed that is produced in compliance with GMP & HACCP principles or its equivalent and do not contain harmful or foreign substances or chemicals in accordance with importing country requirements. The products of aquatic animal origin were handled in an establishment that has been subjected to inspection by the competent authority of the country of origin and implements a food safety management system based on HACCP principles or an equivalent system.
6.3 Crocodiles
There is no agreed certification for import of crocodile meat into Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Arabia competent authority prior to shipping any animal feed to Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Arabia competent authority prior to shipping any crocodile skins and hides to Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Arabia competent authority prior to shipping any Rendered products to Saudi Arabia.
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 Saudi Arabia competent authority prior to shipping any technical products or pharmaceutical material to Saudi Arabia.
22/08/2025 - Updated information on live products (sections 1.2, 3.1 and 6.1).
08/01/2024 - Updated live fish import procedure information (sections 1.2 and 5.1).
29/08/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
30/03/2023 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Fish headings.
08/01/2024 - Updated live fish import procedure information (sections 1.2 and 5.1).
29/08/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 2.2).
30/03/2023 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Fish headings.