MAA 2020-16: Mexico: Fish: Access to export non-viable fish and fish products to Mexico

Date of issue: 7 October 2020

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA2020-16

Attention:

• Industries—Industry bodies – Seafood Export Consultative Committee
• Export registered establishments for the following commodities: fish
• Registered exporters                                                        
• Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment — Central and Regional offices

Purpose

To notify registered export establishments and exporters about the process for the export of non-viable fish and fish products to Mexico. Of note, government certification is not required.

Summary of key points

Australia has market access for fish and fish products under tariff codes 0302, 0303, 0304 and 0305. This includes:

• 0302  Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304.
• 0303  Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304.
• 0304  Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen.
• 0305 Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; flours, meals and pellets of fish, fit for human consumption.
• There is no access for non-viable molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, cephalopods, tunicates or live finfish.
• For fish and fish products permitted for export to Mexico, a government health certificate from Australia is not required.
• Exporters will still need to use EXDOC to raise a request for permit (RFP) and receive an export permit for the goods. The NC1 template is used when no certificate is required when raising an RFP to COMP, without receiving an export certificate.

Packing requirements

• The merchandise must be arranged on pallets or platforms that allow 100% deconsolidation (i.e., wrapped and/or strapped), for product inspection and analysis.
• The containers must be free of organic residues, both inside and outside, with cooling equipment and an anti-runoff system, in case the merchandise requires it.
• In case of non-compliance with these provisions, the import of the goods will not be authorised for entry to Mexico.

Authorised Points of Entry are as follows:

• Aduana de Carga en el AICM,B.C., EnsenadaB.C., MexicaliB.C., TijuanaChih., Cd. JuárezChis, Cd. HidalgoCol., ManzanilloMich., Lázaro CárdenasQ. Roo, CancúnQ. Roo, Subteniente LópezQ. Roo., Puerto MorelosSin., MazatlánSon., NogalesTamps., AltamiraTamps., Cd. ReynosaTamps., Nuevo LaredoVer., VeracruzYuc., Progreso

Inspection of product/s for parasites

• There is an inspection on arrival for parasites. If detected, the consignment remains at port until the parasite is identified and the degree of threat is assessed.
• If the presence of parasites is detected in the goods:
  1. The Agricultural, Aquaculture and Fisheries Health Officer (OSAAP) must collect the sample(s) to be sent to the National Centre for Diagnostic Services in Animal Health (CENASA), for identification of the parasitic genus, at the expense of the interested party;
  2. The Agricultural Health Inspection Office (OISA) shall inform the state representation of the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) by means of an official letter.
     
     COFEPRIS assesses and gives instructions to the importer on how to proceed. If the parasite is deemed a low hazard, the shipment can be released.
     
     
  3. The shipment shall be released to the final destination.

Import conditions

• Requirements to be met by the importer at the Mexican Agricultural Health Inspection Office (OISA) upon presentation of the shipment include an invoice to be submitted stating the following:
• Name and address of the importer and exporter
• Quantity (kg)
• Scientific and/or Australian Fish Name of the species to be imported
• Batch number or identification
• Presentation (i.e. frozen).
• El Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), the Competent Authority for Mexico, has conditions for fish imported from Australia published on its website at: 
• https://sistemasssl.senasica.gob.mx/mcra/consultaRequisitosAcuicolas.xhtml
• It is in Spanish. Google chrome can be used to translate it.  

Exporters should check with their importers, to see if an import permit is required.

The department’s Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) page will be updated to reflect the changes to certification requirements.

Further information

Contact ExportStandards@aff.gov.au 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.