It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the importing country requirements.

Information about the process required to import animals into New Zealand can be found on the New Zealand Government's website. A permit to import is required for eligible ornamental fish and marine invertebrates.

Note

Where an importing country issues an import permit, the exporter must ensure the animal meets any requirements in the permit.

Health certification

The New Zealand website provides steps to importing aquatic animals. There is an agreed import health standard for importing ornamental fish and marine invertebrates.

Health certificate

There is an agreed health certificate for importation of ornamental finfish (freshwater and marine) from Australia to New Zealand.

Zoosanitary requirements for Australian (imported) live ornamental finfish to be exported to New Zealand

I, the undersigned Australian government veterinarian have no reason to doubt the attestation provided by the Australian government officer/s undertaking the health inspection and attestation of the live fish in pre-export isolation (PEI) in regards to the number, identity, details of housing, treatments and examination of these animals.

I, the undersigned Australian government veterinarian hereby certify; that the animals forming the present consignment meet the following conditions:

Eligibility

1. The consignment consists of species of ornamental fish eligible for importation under New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (NZMPI) Import Health Standard (IHS) Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates.

Approval of export system

1. The ornamental fish were imported into an Australian Approved Arrangement (AA) site (approval number: ________________) at the exporter's premises. After the minimum pre-export isolation (PEI) period was completed the fish were moved directly to a PEI biosecure area at the exporter's same premises where they were isolated from all other fish and marine invertebrates not of equivalent health status until exported to New Zealand. At no stage prior to export did the fish leave the exporter's premises.

Diagnostic testing, vaccination, and treatment

1. All required laboratory testing was conducted according to the requirements of NZMPI IHS Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates, at a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved laboratory authorised to conduct testing.
2. The test methods were pre-approved by NZMPI and are listed in the table "Schedule for High Risk Ornamental Fish Species" in this health certificate.
3. For schedule 3 fish that required testing, records of the original or electronic copies of the original laboratory reports were maintained by the exporter and made available for health certification.
4. All treatments undertaken to meet specified disease requirements were administered according to the instructions in NZMPI IHS Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates.
5. Records of the approved treatment, dose rate, the product name, manufacturer and active ingredient were maintained by the exporter and made available for health certification.

Pre-export isolation

1. On arrival in Australia, the ornamental fish for export to New Zealand were held in PEI for a minimum of:
   1. four weeks for freshwater fish
   2. three weeks for marine fish.
2. The fish were maintained for the minimum isolation period at an AA site within the exporter's premises supervised by the Competent Authority of Australia, in accordance with the NZMPI Standard Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates clause 1.11.
3. After the fish completed the minimum isolation period in the AA site, the fish were moved directly to a PEI biosecure area at the exporter's same premises where the fish remained until export isolated from all other fish and marine invertebrates not of equivalent health status and in accordance with the NZMPI Standard Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates clause 1.11 (a(iii), b-g).
4. The ornamental fish were observed daily by PEI facility staff for signs of illness and abnormal behaviour during the PEI period and daily records were maintained and made available for certification.
5. The ornamental fish were inspected by an Australian government officer every 7 days during the PEI period.
6. Within 7 days of export, the ornamental fish were inspected by an Australian government officer and were clinically healthy and showed no clinical signs of disease.
7. During PEI, management procedures were used to ensure the ornamental fish in this consignment were isolated in a separate biosecure area from other ornamental fish and marine invertebrates not of an equivalent health status.

Fish listed in Schedule 3

1. High risk species of ornamental fish species in this consignment that are listed in Schedule 3 of the NZMPI IHS Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates have met the specified requirements for identified risk organisms.

Note

The above species have agreed testing and treatment for importation from Australia into New Zealand. A full list of eligible species for importation can be found in the New Zealand import health standard for importing ornamental fish and marine invertebrates.

There are special conditions for the importation of ornamental fish and marine invertebrates into New Zealand and you should check the requirements on the website and import permit carefully.

Importing country website information.
Health certificate agreed on 20 February 2020.
Entry last reviewed 21 February 2020.