17 October 2018
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to importers of prawns and prawn meat products and associated industry participants and retailers.
What has changed?
The department has been notified that Malaysia will start issuing two health certificates for specific prawn products exported to Australia, based on different functions of Malaysia’s competent authorities. Affected prawn products are:
- uncooked peeled prawns
- par-cooked breaded, battered or crumbed (BBC) prawns
- uncooked highly processed prawn products.
Two separate health certificates will be issued for each consignment:
- one health certificate by the Department of Fisheries (DOF)
- one health certificate by Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
Both health certificates must be presented as part of your documentation. Each health certificate will contain unique attestations that together must meet the relevant import conditions, which are outlined on your import permit.
Note: Importers are responsible for ensuring that all imported prawn consignments are accompanied by the correct health certification. Should you have any questions or concerns about documentation for a particular consignment you should contact the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, prior to the product being sent to Australia. The department can be contacted by phoning 1800 900 090 or by emailing Imports.
Note: Consignments of prawns that are declared as cooked will still be accompanied by only one health certificate.
Further information
If you require further information please call 1800 900 090 or email Imports.
Biosecurity import conditions are available on the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions database (BICON).