Seafood Trade Matters
The latest developments in International Seafood Trade & Market Access affecting Australian Seafood Exporters.
June 23rd, 2022
In this edition: Hong Kong oyster trade disruption, Austrade promotions; Canada's compliance concerns in China
Hong Kong: Temporary trade disruptions for Coffin Bay oysters
The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment advises that Hong Kong Customs is not accepting raw pacific oysters harvested from Coffin Bay, South Australia.
While the Port Douglas harvest area within Coffin Bay was re-opened for export on 15 April 2022 following the verification by DAWE that enhanced Vibrio control measures had been implemented, Hong Kong authorities are still assessing the situation.
Read the full Market Access Advice on the DAWE website here.
Austrade: Promoting Australian seafood exports
The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) has published more seafood export success stories on its website, this time with a focus on Europe. Have a look at the opportunities being pursued in the EU market here.
Austrade is also hosting a live broadcast event in China
today (23 June) with guest chefs introducing premium Australian seafood, including lobster, abalone, southern bluefin tuna, ocean-farmed barramundi, and more. The event is aimed at a local Chinese audience and can be accessed through the official Chinese-language Austrade account on WeChat.
China: Canada’s compliance concerns
Canadian lobster exporters report difficulties complying with Chinese labelling and registration requirements, which were implemented earlier this year. Canadian authorities said many food exporters ‘are experiencing difficulties updating their accounts and registration information’ in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER).
As reported previously in Seafood Trade Matters, China Customs decrees 248 and 249 require online exporter registration through the CIFER system and introduce new Chinese language labelling requirements for exporters of food products.
Currently, only exporters of processed seafood are required to register with CIFER. However, the Lobster Council of Canada is concerned the system could expand: "It is my understanding that to date the CIFER system is not required to be used by the live lobster sector, however, we expect China to initiate a process that will require live shippers to participate in the future".
Read more on the CBC website here.
EU: Support for fisheries impacted by Ukraine crisis
The EU has approved financial support for EU fisheries and the aquaculture sector in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The support includes financial compensation for those who cannot fish and aid to compensate for lost income resulting from the war.
Read the official media release
here.
Taiwan: China bans grouper imports
China Customs has banned imports of grouper from Taiwan after repeated detections of the chemical malachite green. China had accounted for 91 percent of Taiwan’s grouper fish exports, making up about 36 percent of total production.
Taiwanese authorities are considering WTO action in response to the ban. Read more on the Nikkei Asia website here.
Russia suspends fisheries pact with Japan
Russia announced it has suspended a 1998 fisheries agreement with Japan that allows Japanese fishing vessels to operate safely in waters off the disputed Northern Territories.
Read more on the Asahi Shimbun website here, and get more on this story at the Nikkei website here.
China: New seafood catering regulations for Sanya
Authorities in Sanya, China’s premier beachside tourist resort town on Hainan Island, have implemented new regulations for the seafood retail and food service industries.
The measures are aimed at improving price transparency, traceability, and food safety. They “encourage seafood catering operators to install and use price electronic display screens, Internet of Things traceability electronic scales, video surveillance systems and other equipment, and ensure that the equipment operates normally during business hours.”
Read more on the People's Daily website 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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