As of 6 February 2018, trade in prawns and prawn products exported from Indonesia can resume. Indonesia’s Competent Authority (Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries) has provided written confirmation to the department that it can meet Australia’s enhanced import conditions. The USA’s Competent Authority (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]) Seafood Inspection Program of the United States Department of Commerce [USDC] had likewise provided the same assurance and trade resumed last month.
The USA and Indonesia join Argentina, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Denmark, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as countries that have provided written confirmation to the department that they can meet the enhanced import conditions.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) has also written to the Competent Authorities in Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines and Singapore and continues to work with these and other trading partners to ensure safe trade can resume with other countries.
Background
Raw imports were banned a year ago after an outbreak of white spot disease destroyed the prawn farming industry on the Logan River in Queensland. Prawn farmers suspect the disease spread from imported prawns that were used as bait in the river by recreational fishermen.
The DAWR has conceded they will probably never know how the disease entered the country but during 2017 allowed certain imports to resume with beefed up regulations.
Importers are held responsible for ensuring that the conditions on the import permit are complied with before importing goods to Australia. This includes ensuring that there are relevant procedures in place for the exporting country to certify that the prawns are disease free and that a health certificate is supplied that attests to Australia’s enhanced import requirements. Should importers wish to seek advice about the validity of the health certification, they should contact their Customs Broker.
Source References: DAWR Notices 07-2018 and 14-2018
