AUS/451
WTO/SPS
AU Australia
  • 03 - Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
2018-06-29
2018-06-06

Prawns (breaded, battered and crumbed) for human consumption

Biosecurity Advice 2018/10: New import conditions for breaded, battered and crumbed prawns for human consumption

As set out in Biosecurity Advice 2018/10 published on the department's website on 30 May 2018 at:

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos/ba2018-10.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has determined that new import conditions for breaded, battered and crumbed (BBC) prawns are required to manage the risks associated with the increased volume of BBC products imported into Australia. The revised BBC import conditions ensure that the import of BBC prawns can continue while achieving Australia's appropriate level of protection (ALOP).

Pending consideration of comments received during the comment period, all BBC prawns arriving in Australia from 28 September 2018 must be certified by competent authorities of exporting countries to have undergone a par-cooking step (for example, pre-frying or baking) during processing to solidify and adhere the coating to the prawn. BBC prawns will continue to be subject to 100 per cent seals intact inspection on-arrival in Australia. Only those prawns that are verified to have undergone acceptable par-cooking and that meet all other requirements for BBC will be released from biosecurity control. If countries are unable to attest to a par-cooking step for BBC prawns, then Australia's uncooked prawn conditions will apply. The uncooked prawn conditions require pre-export sampling and testing to be conducted post-processing and prior to export to Australia. Only prawns that have been tested and found to be free of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus genotype 1 (YHV1) based on sampling and testing methods recognised by the OIE can be exported to Australia. The uncooked prawns will be subject to 100 per cent secure seals intact inspection on-arrival and testing for WSSV and YHV1 in Australia. Only those batches that test negative for both viruses will be released from biosecurity control.

The new import conditions for BBC prawns will remain in place while Australia continues the review of the biosecurity risks of, and import conditions for, prawns and prawn products imported for human consumption as announced by Australia's Director of Biosecurity on 16 May 2017 (Biosecurity Advice 2017/07; G/SPS/N/AUS/422). Australia's updated model health certificate for prawns and prawn meat for human consumption is attached.