Documentation and procedures to import Fish and Crustaceans
This post provides information on – how to import Fish, Chilled fish, Fish meat, Frozen Fish, Fish fillets,Dried Fish, Smoked Fish, Cooked Fish, Not cooked fish, Fish pallets, Crustaceans, Mollusks with shell, Mollusks without shell, Aquatic invertebrates for human consumption etc. Apart from regular procedures and documentation to import, the special requirements to import Fish and Crustaceans are explained in this article.
In this article, a general idea on import documentation,inspection and other procedures and formalities applicable in different countries to import Fish and Crustaceans are explained.
Processes and formalities to import Fish and Crustaceans
These details are given to enlighten importers on general tips to import Fish,Crustaceans from overseas countries applicable for almost all countries worldwide. Once after reading these posts about import procedures and import customs clearance procedures, you will have a basic idea about the procedures and formalities on how to import various products from foreign countries. As explained, the details given in this category – Import procedures, the basic information is only provided. So, you may contact respective offices of importing country to know more about the complete procedures and formalities applicable for each country, as the import formalities of each country may have specific requirements based on their foreign trade policy.
When discussing about the procedures to import Fish and Crustaceans from other country, the basic slogan must be kept in mind – “ Import of Fish and Crustaceans do not adversely affect the human and animal health population of the country”. So almost all restrictions, ban, procedures and formalities are based on this slogan.
The government officials of importing country assesses the level of risk in importing the said products. If the level is acceptable, the importer is given import permit. The import permit is to be given to the Competent Authority in the exporting country to attest and certify the stipulated import requirements.
How to import Fish and Crustaceans?
Fish and Crustaceans falls under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS) chapter 03 which includes Fish, Chilled fish, Fish meat, Frozen Fish, Fish fillets,Dried Fish, Smoked Fish, Cooked Fish, Not cooked fish, Fish pallets, Crustaceans, Molluscs with shell, Molluscs without shell, Aquatic invertebrates for human consumption etc. Some of the Fishes and Crustaceans are banned by most of the countries to import in their countries.
Based on Foreign Trade Policy of importing country, different types of fish import could be banned,restricted or subjected to quota. However, import of fish and Crustaceans are allowed from non certified countries of import with government certification of importing country.
Now, let us discuss about the common requirements of import Fish and Crustaceans.
What are the requirements to import live animals?
Different countries have their own requirements to import Fish and Crustaceans. The process and formalities to import Fish, Chilled fish, Fish meat, Frozen Fish, Fish fillets,Dried Fish, Smoked Fish, Cooked Fish, Not cooked fish, Fish pallets, Crustaceans, Molluscs with shell, Molluscs without shell, Aquatic invertebrates for human consumption etc differs from one another and in one country to another. Also different procedures and formalities to import each items under Fish and Crustaceans head. However, some of the common requirements in major countries are explained below:
Import permit for Fish and Crustaceans
One of the common requirements to import most of the items under Fish and Crustaceans is Sanitary import permit issued by health department of respective importing country. As I have mentioned above, the human and animal health population of the country do not be adversely effected by import of any Fish and Crustaceans from foreign countries. The import permit should contain complete details of import like name and address of exporter, importer, description of goods,quantity,value, origin details, list of ingredients, species of animals it was derived from, and identification marks etc. The full details of inspecting authority of exporting country need to be mentioned clearly with stamp of licensing authority.
Food Safety Certificate
Food safety certificate need to be enclosed along with shipping documents by exporter, confirming health measures. In US, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in India, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) are the licensing authority to issue such Food safety Certificate to import Fish and Crustaceans. In US, the procedures and formalities to import seafood is governed by Food and Drug Administration FDA, The National Marine Fisheries Services NMFS and the Fish and Wildlife Services FWS. In Canada, although these products do not fall under the jurisdiction of the CFIA, they are still considered an import and must be reported to Canada Border Services Agency.
The food safety authorities of respective importing country verifies certificate issued by exporting countries, in turn arranges reinsertion at the time of import port of entry to ensure that foreign countries have maintained equivalent inspection systems. However, if the government agencies of importing country satisfies on the quality inspection system of exporting country, some importing countries accept such system and allows import by issuing necessary certificates, unless otherwise emergency sanitary measure is implemented.
In some of the importing countries like US, such certificate issued by inspection authorities of exporting country should be clearly certified as the product is fit to export and meets all requirements of importing country.
In order to import Fish, crustaceans and other related products, Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) authorization is required in some countries certifying that the imported fish is free from disease.
Residue controls by Residue & Microbial Testing
Necessary residue and microbial testing is conducted on arrival of imported Fish and Crustaceans . Such inspection program includes random sampling of Fish and Crustaceans,the use of approved sampling and analytical methods,testing of appropriate target tissues for specific compounds, and testing for compounds identified by the government agency of importing country or the country-of-origin as potential contaminants.
Enforcement controls.
The necessary enforcement controls are adopted to identify illegal meat and dairy products import consignments, number of illegal import consignments of meat and dairy products in personal luggage at Community entry points, amount of meat and imported dairy products confiscated and/or destroyed from personal luggage as a result of checks implemented at Community entry points, under developed Countries from which passengers were most regularly found to be carrying illegal meat and dairy products import consignments and under developed countries from which passengers have been regularly subject to customs searches and information on the number of searches carried out and the quantity and type of illegal import consignments found.
In some countries, a certificate from Wildlife Conservation Agency of importing country is required to import fish,crustaceans and other related products from foreign country.
Period of Import Permit for live animals
The period of import permit allowed in most of the countries is 6 months to 1 months. However, extension is allowed for further period of six months or one year on request.
Pre-shipment certification and quarantine checks for importation of Fish and Crustaceans
Pre shipment inspection and certification with quarantine checks is mandatory in some of the countries to import most of the items under the classification- Fish and Crustaceans. Appropriate government or private agencies are authorized for such pre shipment inspection to certify on exporting of Fish and Crustaceans to make sure on health and sanitary measures which fits for export. In Australia, Department of Agriculture Biosecurity has established quarantine procedures under the Quarantine Act 1908 to minimize this risk.
Personal consumption and trading
Import of Fish and Crustaceans could be either for personal purpose or for trading. The procedures and process to import Fish and Crustaceans for trading requires more documentation and formalities. Each government of importing country has a detailed requirements data available to guide importers of Fish and Crustaceans, if not prohibited, as most of the countries restrict import of Fish and Crustaceans due to various reasons effect the health of human and animal of importing country. The trade division in department of animal husbandry and dairying will analyze the information contained in the application with reference to the risk posed by the import on the health of the animal and human population of the country.
Origin of Fish and Crustaceans importing?
The government agencies of importing countries are very keen in checking the origin of Fish and Crustaceans being imported to confirm the health condition. Some of the countries are identified as threat countries in exporting Fish and Crustaceans. The communicable diseases are to be closely monitored when importing Fish and Crustaceans. The country and locality where the livestock product was produced and the country from which shipment took place is keenly verified by the authorities of importing country to confirm the health measures of human and animal of importing country.
Prevention of Food Products Order
In some countries, before imports of Fish and Crustaceans are allowed,the consignment is checked for microbiological and other contaminants under the relevant laws of importing country, if such standards have been laid down.
Environmental measures to import live animals
Some of the importing countries require no objection certificate from environment department of country. In Australia without a permit from the federal environment department, the process of importing Fish and Crustaceans can not be completed.
Pre Import, Import and Post import procedures and formalities.
In some countries, there are many processes a) before import of Fish and Crustaceans,b) at the time of import and c) process after import etc have to be completed to meet the respective country’s foreign trade policy to import Fish and Crustaceans. Import permit before import, inspection on arrival of imported Fish and Crustaceans at entry port by International Animal Quarantine Station to meet health requirement of importation of Fish and Crustaceans, examination of disease status of the country of origin, periodical assessment on health of imported Fish and Crustaceans etc are some of the processes to import Fish and Crustaceans. In case the imported animals are imported for breeding purposes, pedigree certificate or other evidence should be presented to a veterinary official. The imported live animals are moved to quarantine area and necessary samples are drawn to verify and confirm the health status. Necessary precautions and emergency measures are taken to control on disease outbreak, if death of any animal on transit to import.
In Canada, the import inspection on Fish and related products are regulated on the basis of Mandatory Inspection List (MIL) and Enhanced Inspection List (EIL).
Port restrictions
In some of the countries, the customs import clearance procedures and processes to import Fish and Crustaceans are restricted through some of the ports in importing country. This is arranged to provide all necessary infrastructure to meet various processes and requirements to import live animals.
The requirements to import Fish and Crustaceans to be fulfilled by some countries are connected with the the legislation of exporting country, the health status of livestock, of other domestic animals and wildlife, membership of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the regularity and rapidity of information on infectious diseases provided by the exporting country to the Commission and the OIE, the animal health requirements for the production, manufacture, handling, storage and dispatch of products of animal origin, the country's rules on the prevent and control of animal diseases, the organization, structure, competence and power of the veterinary services.
Penalization
If violating any rules of importing country, most of the government of importing countries have the right to penalize the importer, if such Fish and Crustaceans are not returned to exporting country or destroyed by following all necessary health measures of importing country.
In this article, the documentation, process and formalities to import Fish, Chilled fish, Fish meat, Frozen Fish, Fish fillets,Dried Fish, Smoked Fish, Cooked Fish, Not cooked fish, Fish pallets, Crustaceans, Molluscs with shell, Molluscs without shell, Aquatic invertebrates for human consumption etc are explained. As explained above, these information's are generally applicable for all countries importing Fish and Crustaceans. These details on how to import Fish and Crustaceans are given to provide a basic idea to bring Fish and Crustaceans from foreign country. Specific requirements for each importing country need to be followed by importers and exporters of Fish and Crustaceans.
I hope, the above information helps you in gaining basic knowledge on documentation,procedures and formalities in importation of Fish, Chilled fish, Fish meat, Frozen Fish, Fish fillets,Dried Fish, Smoked Fish, Cooked Fish, Not cooked fish, Fish pallets, Crustaceans, Molluscs with shell, Molluscs without shell, Aquatic invertebrates for human consumption etc.
The above information is a part of Export import business Course online
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