14 December 2000

ANIMAL BIOSECURITY POLICY MEMORANDUM 2000/057

INTERIM CONDITIONS ON IMPORTATION OF GREEN (UNCOOKED) PRAWNS

This Animal Biosecurity Policy Memorandum advises stakeholders of interim conditions for the importation of green (uncooked) prawns which are consistent with those proposed in the draft report of the prawns and prawn products import risk analysis (IRA).

On 14 December 2000, Mr Michael Taylor, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia (AFFA) announced interim conditions for the importation of green (uncooked) prawns from all sources.

The conditions are consistent with those proposed in the draft report of the IRA of prawns and prawn products released on 25 August (Animal Quarantine Policy Memorandum 2000/41). The decision to apply interim conditions pending completion of the IRA follows evidence that the diversion of imported prawns to bait use and feeding aquatic animals in aquaculture facilities occurs more widely than was previously thought. This may result in an increased risk of exposure to infection with exotic pathogens. The interim conditions will reduce this risk of exposure. They will apply until the IRA is finalised and new conditions have been agreed and adopted as a result. The interim conditions may be amended from time to time as circumstances require.

The interim conditions require an AQIS permit to import for all green (uncooked) prawns and uncooked prawn product other than dried prawns. Permits to import will be subject to conditions. These will include the following.

1.The consignment must be accompanied by certification by a Competent Authority that:

A. For whole prawns

i)the prawns have not been emergency harvested due to the suspicion or confirmation of disease, and have been processed, inspected and graded in a premises approved by and under the control of the Competent Authority, were free from visible lesions associated with infectious disease, and have been found fit for human consumption; and either

ii)the place of harvest of the prawns (country, zone or aquaculture establishment to be specified) is officially free from white spot disease and yellowhead disease as defined in the OIE International Aquatic Animal Health Code; or

ii)the prawns are packaged to identify the graded count on size (eg 10/15 to the pound, 22/33 to the kilogram) and labelled with country of origin and “FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION ONLY” andare greater than 15 grams individual weight (ie, the graded count is not more than 29 to the pound, or 66 to the kilogram).

B. For processed prawns and prawn product

i)the processed prawns/ prawns from which the product was derived have not been emergency harvested due to the suspicion or confirmation of disease, and have been processed, inspected and graded in a premises approved by and under the control of the Competent Authority, were free from visible lesions associated with infectious disease, and have been found fit for human consumption; and

ii)the prawns have been processed to at least remove the cephalothorax (headed).

2.The importer must declare that the imported uncooked prawns or prawn product will only be sold for human consumption.

3.The importer must keep records of sales of all imported uncooked prawns and prawn product including dates of sale, purchaser and proposed end-use and make these records available to AQIS on request.

4.Imported green prawns must not be subjected to commercial processing (processing undertaken at a commercial premises to prepare product for sale at another premises or location) except in premises approved for the purpose by AQIS.

The interim conditions will take effect from the date of gazettal of the Quarantine Proclamation proclaiming that uncooked prawns are no longer exempt from the requirement for a permit to import. The Proclamation is due for gazettal on 15 December. Imported green prawns that do not meet the above conditions in full will, for a limited period, be assessed for release from quarantine on a case-by-case basis. Assessment will include inspection to identify consignments that do not appear to be genuinely intended for human consumption. Depending on the circumstances they may be allowed entry, refused entry or released from quarantine subject to further processing or restrictions on end-use.

David banks

A/g General Manager

Animal Biosecurity

Contact:
Telephone no:
Facsimile no:
E-mail: / Bernard Robinson
Animal Biosecurity, Biosecurity Australia
02 6272 5330
02 6272 3399
/ Biologicals Unit, AQIS
02 6272 4578
02 6273 2097