Date of issue: 23/10/2017
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA 2017 - 07
Attention:
- Industries—Seafood
- Export establishments approved to export seafood to Vietnam
- Seafood Export Consultative Committee
- Seafood Trade Advisory Group
- Department of Agriculture and Water Resources—Central and Regional offices
Purpose
To notify establishments registered to prepare seafood for export, that the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health (DAH) has amended the Vietnamese list of Australian seafood establishments (approved establishment list) eligible to export to Vietnam.
Effective from 5 October 2017, the following changes were made to the approved establishment list:
- all establishment listings which included live aquatics species for human consumption were amended to remove these commodities;
- a number of establishment listings were completely removed from the approved list on the basis that;
- the establishment did not specify the ‘type of products’ exported to Vietnam; or
- the establishment was only listed to export live aquatic species for human consumption.
The revised approved establishment list, which includes a list of eligible products for each establishment, can be found on the DAH website.
Action required by seafood export establishments:
Establishments registered to export non-viable seafood products to Vietnam are advised to check the revised list to ensure that their establishment is still correctly listed. Establishments that have been removed from the approved establishment list (despite historical trade in non-viable seafood products) or remain listed but the current registration does not reflect all the non-viable seafood products currently exported, should complete Attachment 1 and return to the Dairy, Eggs and Fish Program by COB Friday 27 October 2017.
When completing Attachment 1, exporters are requested to keep seafood product listings generic in nature. For example for establishments processing HOGG whole finfish and fish fillets enter product listing as ‘frozen or chilled finfish’
Please do not include live species on the form.
Actions by the department - Relisting of seafood establishments exporting non-viable (i.e. not live) product
- The department has contacted the DAH to register strong concern in relation to the prompt delisting of specific aquatic species and seafood establishments.
- The department has requested the DAH to facilitate clearance of any affected product (live and non-viable) in transit from Australia to Vietnam to minimise trade disruption as a result of these changes.
- The department has requested the DAH to temporarily reinstate listings for Australian seafood establishments which did not have the ‘type of products’ exported to Vietnam specified on the approved establishment list on an interim basis, whilst the department confirms the types of products being exported by individual establishments. Once the requested information ( Attachment 1) has been received, the department will immediately submit this information to DAH for consideration.
- The department will continue to issue export certification for non-viable seafood products to Vietnam until DAH advises of any changes to certification requirements.
- DAH have advised that no live aquatic species should be included on the approved establishment list.
Background
These amendments are a result of recent role changes within Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The DAH now has responsibility for approving seafood establishments exporting to Vietnam, which was previously the responsibility of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD). To ensure Vietnamese import requirements were being met, the DAH undertook a review of current seafood listings and removed listings for live seafood as establishment listings are not required for this type of commodity. The department understands that DAH has taken similar actions to a number of other countries that export seafood to Vietnam.
Further information
Contact Exports or Dairy Eggs Fish if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.