India: Update on new health certificates

As advised by STAG Trade Matters in September, Indian authorities are introducing new health certificate templates for seafood.

DAFF has advised exporters that new certificates will now be required from 1 January 2023, however, Australian and Indian officials are yet to agree on the final form of the health certification for Australian fish and fish products.

Until the bilaterally agreed certification is finalised, DAFF advises exporters that ‘product exported to India on existing health certification may not be accepted at import inspection on or after 1 January 2023 and may be at elevated risk of being detained’ and that ‘the department may not be able to facilitate the release of detained consignments impacted by the changes.’

Read the full DAFF market access advice here.

EU added to Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Fish)

DAFF has added the European Union to its Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) for fish. This resource is a valuable addition for exporters looking to diversify into EU markets, especially as negotiations on a free trade agreement are nearing conclusion. Check the new page here.

USA: New traceability requirements 

As reported in the last two editions of STAG Trade Matters, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is introducing more robust traceability requirements for food producers and manufacturers. See the FDA’s official page including information and FAQs here. More general information here.

Seafoodsource.com reports on how the rule applies to seafood products more specifically. According to the article, ‘The additional recordkeeping requirements apply to those that manufacture, process, pack, or hold certain foods, including all histamine-producing species of finfish, all finfish potentially contaminated with ciguatoxin (such as grouper, barracuda and snapper), and all finfish. The rule also applies to all smoked fish, molluscs, and crustaceans.’ Read the article here.

US authorities have lodged the new requirements with the WTO. A very detailed (180pp) description of the measure is available here.

Australian seafood exporters with an interest in the market should check with their US-based import and distribution partners about how the new rules might apply to them.   

EU and UK: Ethoxyquin residues in fish

DAFF has issued Market Access Advice responding to media reports claiming that ethoxyquin residues were detected in Atlantic salmon grown in Australia.

While Ethoxyquin is permitted for use as a feed additive in Australia, DAFF advises ‘there is no longer a MRL for fish and fish products in the EU and UK. The department understands that this means that the MRL is set at the limit of detection. Fish and fish products are at risk of being rejected by EU and UK if ethoxyquin is detected.’

Read the full market access advice here.

ASEAN - Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Agreement upgrade

The government has announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).

The upgrade introduces “new chapters and provisions, including on micro, small, and medium sized enterprises, trade and sustainable development and education services. The upgraded agreement will also include enhanced provisions on electronic commerce, competition, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade in goods, rules of origin, trade in services and investment.”

 Read the official media release here.

Trade Minister outlines policy priorities 

Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, has delivered a speech spelling out the government’s trade strategy. Diversification, strengthening the multilateral trading system, smart industry policy, and a more even distribution of the gains from trade are the government’s top priorities. Read the full speech transcript here.

The Minister also announced an Australian contribution of A$2 million to help developing countries implement commitments under the recently concluded WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which aims to curb subsidies for illegal and unsustainable fishing. Read the Minister's media release as part of the WTO Director General’s visit to Australia here.

Export Supply Chain Snapshot

The latest Export Supply Chain Snapshot (ESCS) is now available on the ESCS Webpage here. This edition focuses on sea freight.                                  

Hong Kong: USDA GAIN report

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agriculture Information Network service has published a new seafood market report covering Hong Kong. The report contains an observation on lobster trade dynamics caused by disruption of Australia’s China market:

 ‘For years, the United States was the top lobster supplier followed by Canada and Australia. However, the U.S. leading position was overtaken by Australia with the market share drastically reduced from 39 percent in 2020 to 14 percent in 2021. This was because the Hong Kong market was flooded with Australian lobsters when China banned these products’

Read the full report for market insights here.

Australian Fish Names communique

The Australian Fish Names Committee met on 14 November. The group discussed committee membership, the Australian Fish Names Standard update, and the communication and extension plan. Read the full communique here.

Antimicrobial Resistance Week

This week is World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (18-24 November). Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp said: “Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is one of the biggest threats to human and animal health today. AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria become resistant to antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics.”

Read more about Australia’s contribution to global AMR efforts here.

The STAG is funded by partners:

www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com

The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry. We receive funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).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 is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your individual circumstances and business objectives.