Seafood Trade Matters
The latest developments in International Seafood Trade & Market Access affecting Australian Seafood Exporters.
December 22, 2022
In this edition: CIFER update; Foreign Minister in Beijing; SIA market reports
China: China Extension of CIFER registration to export fish and fish products to China
(MAA2022-22)
This Market Access Advice (MAA) is for export registered vessels and land-based establishments that catch, process, manufacture, pack or store aquatic products that have pending modification requests in the China Import Food Enterprise Register (CIFER) system.
If you wish to extend your CIFER system registration and have not yet submitted an extension application in the CIFER system or had confirmation that your registration has been extended past 31 December 2022, please read the below information.
Summary of key points
- The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) is aware that several Australian Seafood establishments have not been able to submit an application for extension in CIFER because the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) has not yet processed their application for modification.
- The department has received advice from GACC that in order to process Australian seafood establishments’ applications for extension as soon as possible, noting the 31 December 2022 date of expiry, GACC will return all the modification applications currently pending in the system which will allow the establishments to submit their extension.
- GACC has advised that the extension function will be working after the modification applications are returned.
- The relevant Australian establishments are advised to proceed with the extension process as soon as possible once the extension function becomes available, irrespective if they have completed their modification.
- Establishments that have not completed their modification process will then have until 30 June 2023 to complete the process after the extension application has been approved.
- All establishments that have NOT already submitted their extension, and do not have other pending applications in the system for seafood, are advised to submit the extension application as soon as possible to reduce delays in this being sent to GACC.
- The department will continue to issue health certification for Australian seafood establishments post 31 December 2022 even if their CIFER registration has not been extended. Establishments and exporters must note that this does not guarantee acceptance of trade from GACC and must consider the commercial risk involved in exporting in the scenario that GACC has not extended their CIFER registration.
Please contact exportlisting@agriculture.gov.au if you have any queries.
China: Foreign Minister visits Beijing
Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited Beijing for talks with her Chinese counterpart on Wednesday - the first visit by an Australian minister to China since 2019. Trade and market access were high on the agenda. There are hopes that a meeting between trade ministers will occur soon. Read a summary on the ABC website here.
India: Update on new registration requirements
Indian authorities have requested the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to submit details of processing establishments that export fish and fish products to India. The department is seeking further clarification from Indian government on the requirement and timeframe.
Read the full market access advice on the DAFF website here.
SIA: EU, India and GCC market reports now available
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) has made available detailed market opportunity and impediments reports for the European Union, India, and Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Read these reports by clicking the links below:
● European Union Opportunities and Impediments Report
● Gulf Cooperation Council Opportunities and Impediments Report
USA: Traceability requirement webinar recording now available
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held an informational webinar on the recently released Food Traceability final rule issued under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The webinar can be viewed on the FDA website here.
China: Draft new food packaging measures
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has circulated draft regulations relating to standards for food packaging with the aim of reducing excessive packaging. The draft rules will apply to seafood, if implemented. Find out more about the proposed measures on the Asia Food Navigator website here.
If you think your product packaging might be affected by the rules, please contact STAG and let us know: admin@seafoodtradeadvisory.com
USA: Maine's lobstermen secure reprieve
US lobster fishermen in Maine have been granted an extended period to comply with measures to reduce harm to North Atlantic right whales. According to Maine Public, ‘The proposal would give the National Marine Fisheries Service until 2028 to issue new rules aimed at reducing right whale injuries and deaths from entanglements in lobster gear.’ Read more here.
The STAG is funded by partners:
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.
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