SEAFOOD TRADE BULLETIN
7th May 2021
This Bulletin contains information general in nature. Before taking any action based on the information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your individual circumstances and business objectives. Exporters should verify any details with their importers prior to undertaking any action.
China Suspends Strategic Economic Dialogue
Responding to the Australian Federal Government's decision to end Victoria and China’s Belt and Road cooperation agreement, Beijing has formally suspended all activities under the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) process. The SED has been unofficially suspended since 2017. The move is mostly symbolic with limited practical impact on day-to-day bilateral work between Australian and Chinese officials, which is already severely constrained.
Learn more from the Chinese perspective here.
* The STAG will continue to monitor this situation and provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Updates to Export Market Development Grant Program
The government has released new rules for its Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program.
Austrade is now preparing draft grant guidelines for release for consultation in May, and working to design a streamlined EMDG experience from application through to payment in a new EMDG Online Application Portal.
Get more information about the changes here.
China restricts seafood imports over COVID detections
China customs continues to suspend foreign seafood export establishments due to COVID detections.
Recent suspensions include: a Russian processing fishing vessel due to a detection on frozen pollock; an Indonesian seafood exporter due to a detection on frozen golden thread; and an Argentine seafood exporter due to a detection on frozen red prawns.
Government Export Market Briefings
A written summary of Austrade’s 15 April 2021 North-East Asia update for Australian exporters is now available.
The report includes the following interesting report from South Korea:
A major hospitality venue has advised that Australian fresh salmon is losing competitiveness in Korea owing to limited flights and therefore deliveries. Norway is flying fresh salmon into Korea two-to-three times per week – ensuring continuity of fresh produce.
A recording of Austrade’s 29 April ASEAN Market Update for Agrifood Exporters webinar is available here. Skip to the Q&A session to hear a question about opportunities for premium seafood exporters in the region.
Discover new opportunities at the upcoming Philippines Market Insights Seminar, presented by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in partnership with the Export Council of Australia, Tuesday 11 May 12pm-1pm AEST. Register here
Export Legislation Consultations
Australia’s new agricultural export legislation, the Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control Rules 2021, commenced on 28 March 2021.
The Department of Agriculture is reviewing its process of developing and rolling out the new framework to improve future work. Face-to-face consultations will be held in capital cities (see list below).
If you would like to contribute your views, please contact: exportlegislation@agriculture.gov.au.
Hobart 2nd June 2021
Melbourne 3rd June 2021
Canberra 7th June 2021
Perth 8th June 2021
Adelaide 9th June 2021
Sydney 16th June 2021
Brisbane 17th June 2021
International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) updates
The IFAM flight schedules have been updated with the latest details on IFAM-supported flights.
Recent changes to outbound flights include:
- An extension of the Singapore Airlines service from Adelaide to Singapore.
- The addition of a new Qantas Airlines service from Melbourne to Los Angeles
- An extension of the existing United Airlines Melbourne to Los Angelis service.
- An additional Friday flight for the existing Qantas Service from Sydney to Narita.
Full details can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound.
Market Access Advice: European Union
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has notified manufacturers and exporters of composite goods (i.e. foodstuffs containing both products of plant origin and processed products of animal origin, such as pizzas, soup, and pies) about exemptions from official controls at EU border control posts.
Affected products include: olives stuffed with fish; soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer; and food supplements packaged for the final consumer, containing processed animal products (including glucosamine, chondroitin, or chitosan).
More detail can be found here.
STAG Notices are available at http://www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com
This Bulletin is a resource for Australian seafood exporters.The Seafood Trade Advisory Group receives funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation plans, invests in and manages fisheries research and development throughout Australia. It is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the fishing industry.
