It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the European Union (EU) import requirements.

Information about the process required to import aquatic animals into the European Union can be found on the EU website.

The import and transit of aquatic animals into the EU is strictly regulated under EU legislation and enforced by the Department through Departmental officers in the regional office from where the animals are to be exported.

It is the responsibility of the exporter to use the appropriate EU health certificate and ensure that this and any accompanying declarations are in English and the appropriate language of the EU member state of the border inspection post (BIP) / border control post (BCP) where the animals will enter the EU.

Note

Where an importing country issues an import permit, the exporter must ensure the animal meets any requirements in the permit.
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The European Commission has advised that from January 2022, Catalaphyllia jardinae, Duncanopsammia axifuga, Euphyllia paraancora, Euphyllia glabresecens, and Euphyllia ancora have been banned for import into the EU and its 27 member countries from Australia.

The EU defines “aquatic animals” as animals of the following species, at all life stages, including eggs, sperm, and gametes, per Article 4(3) of the Animal Health Law:

• fish belonging to the superclass Agnatha and to the classes Chondrichthyes, Sarcopterygii and Actinopterygii
• aquatic molluscs belonging to the phylum Mollusca
  
• aquatic crustaceans belonging to the subphylum Crustacea​​

All aquatic animals exported to the EU intended for specific aquaculture establishments, for release into the wild or for other purposes excluding human consumption must travel under the health certificate set out in Annex 1 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236 and found below.​

Certificate for movement of aquatic animals to the EU:

• ​Model health certificate – English – Aquatic animals –  ‘AQUA-ENTRY-ESTAB/RELEASE/OTHER’
  

There are notes for completion of the model certificate found within the certificate itself and as provided for in Chapter 4 of Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235.

The Department has developed an additional ​guidance document (PDF 225 KB | DOCX 44 KB) is available to assist with completion of the Model Health Certificate.

Australian Departmental officers will only endorse health certification for aquatic animals destined to the EU if it is written in English and, where required, an official language of the EU Member State of the BIP where the animals will enter the EU.

Australian Departmental officers will not endorse health certification for aquatic animals destined to the EU if only presented in a language other than English.

To complete point I.7 of the EU health certificate you will need to name the exporting country and its ISO code.

Permission to move aquatic animals out of Australia

You may need permission under wildlife trade laws to move aquatic animals out of Australia. Refer to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s International wildlife trade requirements.

Email

wildlifetrade@dcceew.gov.au

Export from Australia of Australian native hatchery bred fingerlings or ova should be accompanied by approval of the hatchery facility from the appropriate State or Federal authority. Refer to the Department’s Exporting fish and fish products from Australia for information about exports for human consumption.

Listed and unlisted species​

There are specific rules concerning aquatic animals of listed species entering the EU. The EU publish a guidance document with common names for listed species to guide trading partners. The listed diseases and the species which are listed concerning those diseases, are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 and in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/403.

If the species to be exported is considered “unlisted” (i.e. not susceptible nor a vector of pathogens), then the requirements are determined by the importing EU Member State, and the importer should request this information in writing from the EU Member State government officials directly.

Animals to be released into the wild

There are exceptional arrangements in the certificate regarding animals to be released into the wild and you should check this carefully.

Based on importing requirements sourced from European Commission website.

Entry last reviewed 26 June 2026.​