Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 1 of 7 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD FOR PROCESSED 
TILAPIA AND CATFISH  FOR HUMAN 
CONSUMPTION FROM SPECIFIED COUNTRIES  
 
Issued pursuant to Section 24A of the Biosecurity Act 1993  
Dated:  
 
USER GUIDE  
The information in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) animal produ ct import health 
standards is presented in numerically ordered sections with descriptive titles. Sections are 
grouped into one of four parts, designated alphabetically.  
Part A. GENERAL INFORMATION contains sections of general interest, including those 
relating to the legal basis for MPI import health standards and the general responsibilities of 
every importer of animals and animal products.  
Part B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE contains sections that outline the requirements to be 
met prior to and during importati on. Whether a permit to import is required to be obtained 
prior to importation is noted, as are conditions of eligibility, transport and general conditions 
relating to documentation accompanying the consignment.  
Part C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE contains section s describing the requirements to be met 
at the New Zealand border and, if necessary, in a transitional facility in New Zealand prior to 
any consignment being given biosecurity clearance.  
Part D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION contains model health certification  which must 
be completed by the appropriate personnel as indicated in the certification and accompany the 
consignment to New Zealand.  
PART A. GENERAL INFORMATION  
1 IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD  
1.1 Pursuant to section 24A of  the Biosecurity Act 1993  (the Act) , this doc ument is the 
import health standard for processed tilapia and catfish  for human consumption from 
specified countries  as set out in Part B . 
1.2 Obtaining biosecurity clearance for each consignment of processed tilapia and catfish  
for human consumption is depend ent upon the consignment meeting the requirements 
of this import health standard.  
1.3 This import health standard may be reviewed, amended or revoked if there are changes 
in New Zealand's import policy or the animal health status of the originating country, 
or for any other lawful reason, at the discretion of the Manager, Import & Export   
  
Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 2 of 7 Animals . 
2 IMPORTER'S RESPONSIBILITIES  
2.1 The costs to MPI in  performing functions relating to the importation of processed 
tilapia and catfish  fish for human consumption shall be r ecovered in accordance with 
the Biosecurity Act and any regulations made under that Act.  
2.2 All costs involved with importation such as documentation, transport, storage and 
obtaining a biosecurity authorisation  and/or biosecurity clearance shall be borne by the 
importer or agent.  
2.3 Commercial consignments of products imported into New Zealand for human 
consumption in New Zealand must comply with the Food Act 2014.   These 
requirements are independent of the import health standard requirements.  Importers 
are adv ised to contact the Food Safety unit of MPI  or consult the  website at : 
http://mpi.govt.nz/nzfoodsafety/  
2.4 Once the consignment has been given biosecurity clearance into New Zealand, it is the 
importer’s resp onsibility to ensure (where relevant) that the consignment complies with  
the Animal Products Act 1999, especially if it is returned New Zealand product, 
product entering operations also used for the export of animal products, or if it is to be 
re-exported.  Information about these requirements can be obtained from the website  
at: www.mpi.govt.nz/exporting/overview/general -requirements/export -non-
conformance s/ or by contacting the local MPI  Verification Services office. 
Certification and other official assurance requirements which may be applicable are 
accessible at: www.mpi.govt.nz/food -safety/ . 
2.5 It is the importer  or agent’s responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with the 
import  health standard at the time of importation into New Zealand. Current versions 
of import health standards are available online at : www.mpi.govt.nz/law -and-
policy/requirements/import -health -standards/ . 
3 DEFINITION OF TERMS  
For the purposes of this IHS , terms used that are defined in the Act have the meanings set out 
there. The Act is av ailable at the following website: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/ . 
 
Certifying Official  
A person authorised by the Veterinary Authority of the exporting country to sign international 
veterinary certificates.  
 
CITES  
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.  
 
MPI  
Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand   
  
Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 3 of 7  
OIE  
The World Organisation for Animal Health  
 
Potable water  
Water fit for human consumption, i.e. water that doe s not contain organisms pathogenic to 
humans in sufficient quantities to render the water harmful to a human consumer.  
 
Zoosanitary certificate  
A certificate issued by the exporting country in accordance with the OIE.  
 
4 EQUIVALENCE  
4.1 The Chief Technical Offi cer (CTO) may approve measures under section 27(1)(d) of the  
Act, different from those set out in this IHS, that may be applied to effectively manage 
risks associated with the importation of these goods. If an equivalent measure is approved 
a permit to imp ort may be issued under section 24D(2) of the Act, if the Director -General 
considers it appropriate to do so.  
PART B. IMPORTATION PROCEDURE  
5 ELIGIBILITY  
5.1 This import health  standard allows the importation of : 
1. frozen, skinless, boneless fish fillets (or mi nce derived from fillets) of tilapia 
(Oreochromis  spp.) for human consumption  from the People’s Republic of China , 
Brazil , Thailand, the Philippines , Indonesia  or Malaysia  
2. frozen, skinless, boneless fish fillets (or mince derived from fillets) of non-CITES  
listed sp ecies  of catfish  (Pangas ius spp.) for human consumption  from Thailand, 
Vietnam  or Malaysia . 
6 DOCUMENTATION ACCOMPANYING THE CONSIGNMENT  
6.1 The consignment must be accompanied by appropriately completed health certification 
which meets the requirement s of PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION . 
6.2 Documentation must  be in English, but may be bilingual (language of exporting 
country/English).  
6.3 It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that any documentation presented in 
accordance with the requirements of th is import health standard is original (unless 
otherwise specified) and clearly legible. Failure to do so may result in delays in 
obtaining biosecurity authorisation  and/or clearance or rejection of consignments.   
  
Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 4 of 7 PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE  
7 BIOSECURITY CLE ARANCE  
7.1 For biosecurity clearance the product must:  
7.1.1 Meet Part B, and  
7.1.2 Must be accompanied by printouts of all container temperature sensors or direct 
electronic downloads where freezing is completed in transit . 
PART D. ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION  
8 EXPORT CERTIF ICATION  
The following model Zoosanitary Certificate contains the information required by MPI to  
accompany processed tilapia and catfish for human consumption .  
  
Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 5 of 7 9 MODEL ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATION  
Commodity:   FROZEN, SKINLESS, BONELESS FISH FILLETS (OR MINCE 
DERIVED FROM FILLETS) OF TILAPIA  OR CATFISH  FOR 
HUMAN CONSUMPTION  
Scientific name:  ……………………...….. (insert either Oreochromis  spp. or Pangasius  spp.)  
Exporting Country:  …………………………………………………………………………….  
Competent Authority:  ………………………………………………………………………….  
I.  ORI GIN OF THE PRODUCT  
(i) Name, address and registration number of farm of origin:  ................................ .............   
  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....  
(ii) Name, address and registration number of processing facility:  ................................ ......  
  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....  
 
II. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION  
(i) The commodity contained in this consignment is (describe form and packaging):  
  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....  
(ii) Amount (in kgs) of product:  ................................ ................................ ..........................   
 Number of the container(s) and container seal number(s)  if sea freight : .........................   
  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....  
 
III. DESTINATION OF FISH  
(i) Name and address of New Zealand importer:   ................................ ...............................   
  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....  
IV. ZOOSANITARY INFORMATION  
I, ……………………………………………………………… ......being a certifyi ng official of  
 ………………………………………………………………………………………………… . 
(for Oreochromis  spp. insert either Brazil , the People’s Republic of China , Thailand, the 
Philippines , Indonesia  or Malaysia ; for Pangasius  spp. insert Thailand, Vietnam  or Malaysia ), 
certify after due  enquiry, with respect to the product identified in this Zoosanitary Certificate 
that:  
  
Import Health Standard for Processed Tilapia and Catfish  for Human Consumption  
FISFILIC.SPE  Date:  Page 6 of 7 1. The product is derived from fish within the genus …………………………………… 
(insert either Oreochromis  spp.or Pangas ius spp.) that have been  farmed and were  
continually resident in ……………………………………………………………………  
(for Oreochromis  spp. insert either Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, the 
Philippines , Indonesia  or Malaysia ; for Pangasius  spp. insert Thailand, Vietnam  or 
Malaysia ). 
2. The product  contains only skinless, boneless, frozen fillets (or mince derived from fillets)  
for human consumption . 
3. No CITES listed  species  were used in the manufacturing of this product.  
4. The product is derived from fish that were not slaughtered as an official disease control 
measure as a result of a n outbreak of disease.  
5. The product is derived from fish that at the time of harvesting for processing did not show 
any clinical signs of disease, septicaemia or skin ulceration.  
6. The product is derived from fish that were processed in establishments approve d by the 
Competent Authority of (for Oreochromis  spp. insert either Brazil, the People’s Republic 
of China, Thailand, the Philippines , Indonesia  or Malaysia ; for Pangasius  spp. insert 
Thailand, Vietnam  or Malaysia ). 
7. Potable water was used at all times in t he processing plant w here these fish have been  
processed .  
8. EITHER  
i. The product has been frozen to -18 °C for at least 168 hours ( 7 days ) prior to 
transport,  OR 
ii. The product has been frozen to -18 °C for at least 168 hours ( 7 days ) including 
transit time . Note: Details of freezing during transit will be required as per the Import 
Health Standard PART C . 7.1.2.  
(Delete 8.i or 8.ii as appropriate t o the consig nment)  
9. This certificate was completed no more than three (3) days prior to shipment.  
Official stamp : 
 
 
Name and signature of Certifying Official : ………………………………… Date : …………  
Name and address of office:  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....