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 Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website. A permit to import is required for eligible ornamental fish and marine invertebrates.

Refer to the New Zealand MPI and the Department’s websites for current information about exporting aquatic animals (including any suspensions) to New Zealand.

Note

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

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, Dr ………………………………, a duly authorised government veterinary officer, hereby certify that

Eligibility

1. The consignment consists of species of ornamental fish and marine invertebrates eligible for importation under New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (NZMPI) Import Health Standard (IHS) Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates.
2. The consignment consists of species of ornamental fish and marine invertebrates that are not listed in “Schedule 3 – Species of Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates Susceptible to Diseases” in Part 2 of NZMPI IHS Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates.

Note

Species of ornamental fish and marine invertebrates that are listed in Schedule 3 are not eligible for export under this health certificate.

Pre-export isolation

1. The ornamental fish and marine invertebrates 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 and marine invertebrates.
   
   
2. The fish and marine invertebrates were maintained for the minimum isolation period at 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. The ornamental fish and marine invertebrates 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.
4. The ornamental fish and marine invertebrates were inspected in person or virtually by an Australian government officer every 7 days during the PEI period.
5. Within 7 days of export, the ornamental fish and marine invertebrates were inspected in person or virtually by an Australian government officer and were clinically healthy and showed no clinical signs of disease.
6. During PEI, management procedures were used to ensure the ornamental fish and marine invertebrates in this consignment were isolated in a separate biosecure area from other ornamental fish and marine invertebrates not of an equivalent health status.
   

Harmonised system (HS) code(s): 0301

CITES:

SER:

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

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’s International and 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.

Based on health certificate agreed on 14 November 2023 and importing country website.

Entry last reviewed 8 December 2023.