Date of issue: 3 April 2024
Date of effect: From 8 April 2024
Reference Number: MAA 2024-03
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies – Seafood Export Consultative Committee, Seafood Trade Advisory Group, Seafood Industry Australia
- Export establishments
- Exporters, AEPI and EXDOC users
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry —central and regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) notifies industry of changes to certification for fish and fish products to Great Britain (which is the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland) from 8 April 2024.
Summary of key points
In July 2023 the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) informed the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (the department) of upcoming changes to their model certificates for the import of fish and fish products for human consumption.
From 8 April 2024, the department shall issue amended certification for fish and fish products to Great Britain as part of a certificate roll out for a range of commodities. The roll out will be finalised by 15 April 2024.
The certificate amendments are administrative, changing only the format and appearance of certificates and will have no impact the export requirements for fish and fish products.
The department template identifiers have not changed; they remain FGBA (for fishery products such as eviscerated fish or non-viable crustaceans) and FGBB (for aquaculture whole fish).
Notes for completion
The amended templates do not contain “Notes for completion”. Exporters will be able to access these instructions via a link to the DEFRA website in the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor).
Replacement certificates
Exporters are reminded replacement certificates may only be issued in cases of clear administrative errors. If the consignee, port of entry, date of transport or mode of transport changes after the certificate has been issued, exporters should contact the department for advice.
Certificates for fish and fish products exported to Great Britain must be issued on or before the date of departure of the consignment.
Trade to Northern Ireland
Fish and fish products exported to Northern Ireland must continue to use the existing European Union (EU) certificates in accordance with the Windsor Framework agreed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU. Product exported to Northern Ireland must continue to meet EU regulations.
The department strongly advises exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure product is eligible to be exported to Northern Ireland and to contact the department if there are any difficulties with clearance of consignments.
Micor
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. Exporters are encouraged to subscribe to the Micor update service for commodity-specific emails that lists changes that have been made.
Further information
Contact ExportStandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided above 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.