IFAM extended; new lobster certifications for Thailand; World Fisheries Conference moves online
Seafood Trade Matters
The latest developments in International Seafood Trade & Market Access affecting Australian Seafood Exporters.
9 September 2021
Latest Developments:
IFAM extended; new lobster certifications for Thailand; World Fisheries Conference moves online
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IFAM extended until mid-2022
The Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism, the Hon. Dan Tehan, has announced the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) will be extended until mid next year. The Minister said IFAM will receive an additional $260.9 million to continue operations until 30 June 2022, with an operational tail to the end of July 2022.
The scheme has been a lifeline for Australian exporters of premium argri-food products, especially live rock lobster and abalone. In a recent IFAM briefing, officials provided more insights around the program, warning that air freight conditions had deteriorated:
● Despite the extension, IFAM had entered a difficult phase with reduced flight capacity and rising prices;
● Reduced passenger arrivals into Australia had resulted in many airlines reducing
services to Australia, particular from North America (for example, America Airlines had
completely withdrawn until end of October, Air Canada was also not flying for next two months);
● Government hoped to see more scheduled flights when Australia’s passenger caps were eased;
● Prices were rising due to scarcity, with planes, pilots and crew all constrained;
● Seafreight was similarly constrained with global container shortages and prices rising by 300% - 500%;
● The situation might improve by November as the peak shipping season passed and Australia’s vaccination rates were expected to reach levels that would allow for less
passenger restrictions on flights.
Officials urged exporters to work with importers to lobby for more flights, as requests would be more effective from inside the target market. Freight forwarders were key to getting access to flights with a highly competitive season coming up and capacity currently at 100%.
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Thailand: New rock lobster export certification
New certification for the export of live rock lobsters to Thailand will be required from 1 September 2021.
The change is a result of new market access being granted for western rock lobster, which is now an eligible species for live exports to Thailand, joining tropical and ornate rock lobsters.
Get the details from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
World Fisheries Congress 20-24 September
The 2021 World Fisheries Congress will be a fully online event broadcast from Adelaide on 20-24 September.
The conference program is focused on exploration, discussion and debate around key innovations, latest research, challenges and opportunities facing the global fisheries community today.
For registration and further information, go to the official website here.
Consultation on the National Fisheries Plan
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment aims to ensure the sustainable growth and development of Australia’s fishing and seafood community for the benefit of all Australians. The National Fisheries Plan is being developed to guide industry and government joint efforts towards this goal.
The plan will aim to identify priority areas to support the growth and development of fishing sectors, and propose initiatives for government and fishing sectors to implement.
Public feedback can be lodged until 8 October 2021 at the Have Your Say website.
Australia India Economic Strategy
The Seafood Trade Advisory Group took part in a primary industries online forum in relation to the review the Australian Government is undertaking as an update of Australia’s India Economic Strategy to 2035, to set short term action for our economic relationship with India, given recent impacts such as COVID-19, intensified geostrategic competition, our strengthened strategic relationship with India and India’s reform agenda.
While very little Australian seafood is exported to India due to the very high import tariffs and with India being a major processor and exporter of seafood in its own right, with the improved standard of living and rapid increase of the middle class, there may be opportunities if tariff and tax issues can be addressed.
STAG will continue to liaise with DFAT in relation to the strategy. If you have additional issues you would like addressed, please contact us at admin@seafoodtradeadvisory.com by mid-September to allow them to be included in any submission.
China Customs suspensions
Another dozen or so suspensions have been issued to seafood exporting establishments by China Customs in the last fortnight after discoveries of Covid-19 fragments on frozen seafood packaging from Russia, South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Myanmar and India. Check all the announcements on the Customs website here.
Appointment of delegates to the FRDC board
The Hon. David Littleproud MP has announced FRDC board delegates for the period of September 2021 to August 2024.
You can find the full list on the STAG website here:
IFAM Updates
The IFAM flight schedules have been updated with the latest details on IFAM-supported flights.
Recent changes to outbound flights include:
- An additional day for the Qantas service from Brisbane to Hong Kong
- A new stop for the Qantas service from Melbourne to Bangkok (now via Perth)
- A new day for the Qantas service from Melbourne to Hong Kong (Brisbane)
- An additional day for the Qantas service from Melbourne to Los Angeles
- An additional day for the Qantas service from Melbourne to Narita
- A new stop for the Qantas service from Perth to Bangkok
Full details can be found in the IFAM Flight Schedule Outbound and IFAM Flight Schedule Inbound.
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The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) creates informative resources for Australian seafood exporters. The STAG receives funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). It is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry, which is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture Water and the Environment.
Any information provided in this STAG publication as a part of this service is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and business objectives.
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