Seafood Trade Matters
The latest developments in International Seafood Trade & Market Access affecting Australian Seafood Exporters.
July 8, 2022
In this edition: SIA update, NZ-EU FTA; Export grants now open; Cost Recovery Implementation Statement
Seafood Industry Australia update
SIA has released a new round of export market summaries and supply chain guides. These reports provide an overview of trade agreements, market access requirements, economic and demographic indicators, consumer behaviour and societal trends, category channels, along with trade and consumption data. Find the reports on the STAG website here.
New Zealand and European Union conclude FTA
New Zealand and the EU have announced the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). The deal is expected to be signed next year. Read more here.
The FTA includes immediate tariff elimination for almost all fish and seafood, amounting to annual tariff savings of $20 million a year.
According to Seafood New Zealand, ‘For seafood, 99.5 percent of New Zealand’s current fish and seafood trade will enter the EU tariff-free from day one, increasing to 99.9 percent within five years, and 100 percent within seven years, with tariff savings of $19.6 million per annum. Tariffs will be eliminated at entry into force on almost all fish, and mussels, squid and other shellfish.’
Read the media release from Seafood New Zealand here.
Seafood appears to have been a winner, but not everyone is happy.
Export Market Development Grants open
The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) program helps Australian businesses grow their exports in international markets. These grants encourage small to medium enterprises to market and promote their goods and services globally.
The new round of grants opened on Wednesday, 6 July and closes 4pm AEST on Wednesday, 17 August. Applications must be submitted via the EMDG Online Portal.
Cost Recovery Implementation Statement
The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment has published a draft 2022–23 fish and egg exports Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) for consultation.
To provide your feedback, visit the website here.
USDA: Netherlands seafood market
With an Australia-EU FTA seemingly imminent, it's a perfect time to consider seafood sales opportunities in EU markets. The US Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Information Network provides a detailed look at the opportunities for seafood exporters in the Netherlands.
According to the report, “The Netherlands is increasingly becoming one of Europe’s leading importers and exporters of seafood products… Growth opportunities for U.S. exporters of seafood can be found in three market segments: seafood processing, food retail, and HRI-foodservice.”
Read the full market report here.
UK lifts post-Fukushima food import ban
The UK has lifted restrictions on food imports from Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, site of the 2011 nuclear catastrophe. According to The Guardian: ‘Britain restricted Fukushima imports after the disaster, the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl, but has gradually lifted them, even as other countries limit or ban produce from the region.’
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.
The STAG is managed by:
The STAG is supported by:
