Imported Food Requirements  
 
Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae)  
 
 
 
 
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Imported food requirements:  Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae)   
Recent Updates  
Date  Information  
1st  December 2012  Commencement of this IFR  
 
1.0 Scope  
1.1 The purpose of this Imported Food Requirement is to provide administrative guidance to a Food Act Officer 
(FAO) as to the matters they may take into consideration when determining whether they have been satisfied by a 
person who imports food into New Zealand that the food complies in all respects with-  
 
(a) All relevant provisions of the Food Act 1981; and  
 
 (b) All relevant provisions of any regulations made pursuant to the Food Act 1981; and 
 
 (c)  All applicable food standards.  
 
Nothing in this Imported Food Requirement limits the powers of a FAO appointed under the Food Act 1981.  
 
1.2 Legislative requirement:  
Products covered under the scope of these requirements are Prescribed Foods for the purpose of import into New 
Zealand (Section 11P, Food Act 1981).  
Food (Presc ribed Foods) Standard 2007  
 
No person may import these products into New Zealand unless that person has satisfied an officer that the food 
complies.  
1.3 This Imported Food Requirement sets out clearance options and procedures for importers of prescribed f oods 
that an importer may follow when aiming to satisfy a FAO that the food complies with the Food Act 1981.  
 Imported Food Requirements  
 
Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae)  
 
 
 
 
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1.4 These clearance options and procedures apply in addition to and after a prescribed food has gained clearance 
from Ministry for Primary Industr ies (MPI) Biosecurity New Zealand.  Importers should check the MPI  Biosecurity 
Import Health Standards requirements at:  
 
Import health standards search  
 
1.5 Products include:  Any products from Puffer Fish  (or fish of the order Tetraodonitiformes ) also described as 
Globe Fish; Swell Fish;  Fugu; Bok; or Hétún.  Products include whole processed fish or  fillets; and fish products  
such as stews, bisques, congee, cereal and grain gruels  containing Puffer Fish at any compositional value.   
 
1.6 Products exclude: Dried or ornamental  products not intended for human consumption  
 
1.7 Food safety hazard: Presence of Tetrodotoxin, (abbreviated as  TTX). Tetrodotoxin is  a potent neurotoxin with 
no known antidote.  No Tetrodotoxin is permitted in the finished product.  
 
1.8 Import permitted with conditions from: Korea  
 
2.0 Targeting of Product  
 
Prescribed foods are targeted at the border using the New Zealand Customs tariff code system.  
A tariff code is a number used for Customs purposes to classify goods.  An import agent or customs broker may be 
able to assist with interpretation of the tariff code.   
 
Products targeted by MPI Food Safety and the applicable tariff codes can be found at:  
 
Tariff codes for prescribed foods  
 
Inadvertent captures  
As the tariff classification system is not designed specifically around the imported food regime, some food products 
may be inadverte ntly captured by the targeted tariff codes listed.  If this is the case, products will be cleared without 
charge.  Imported Food Requirements  
 
Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae)  
 
 
 
 
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3.0 Importer Clearance Option  
3.1 The clearance option  and procedures in this Imported Food Requirement apply to Puffer Fish  
(Tetraodonitiform es) and Puffer Fish products and are in addition to clearance requirements detailed in the Import 
Clearance Procedure.   
 
Import Clearance Procedure  
 
3.2 Importers m ust also meet the requirements of the Food (Importer Listing) Standard 2008 and the Food 
(Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008.  Importers should also read and understand the Food Importer 
Standards Guidance before sourcing products to import.  
 
Food Importer Standards  
 
3.3 For Puffer Fish (Tetraodonitiformes ) and Puffer Fish products , importers have a responsibility under the Food 
(Importer General Requirements) Standard 2008 to ensure imports are not contaminated with Tetrodotoxin (TTX).   
 
3.4 The only option available to importers when they are aiming to satisfy a FAO that the food complies with the 
Food Act and can therefore be cleared is to supply recognised assurances / certification  from: 
• Korea:  A recognised Sanitary Certificate from the Animal, Plant and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection 
Agency; Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.  
Requirements to be met: Certi fication is required with each consignment.  A recognised assurance or 
certification must include:  
• identification of fish species (scientific and common name) in the consignment  
• a statement that  the consignment contains no other fish species   
• a guarantee or proof in wri ting that the product  has been gutted and prepared by a certified person and 
therefore is deemed fit for human consumption.  
• A statement that the fish were inspected under the supervision of the competent authority  
 
4.0 Clearance Procedures  
4.1 Documentation checks  
All consignments accompanied by MPI recognised assurances / certification from the relevant competent authority are subject to 100% documentation checks.  Imported Food Requirements  
 
Puffer Fish (Tetraodontidae)  
 
 
 
 
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4.2 Physical inspections  
Verification of recognised assurances/certification  
Recognised assurances/certification may be verified by physical inspection of 1 in every 20 consignments where 
consignments are more frequent than 20 in a six month period.  Where consignments are less than 20 in a six 
month period, they are verified every six months.  
4.3 Clearance sampling and testing on arrival in New Zealand 
Because of the highly toxic nature of Tetrodotoxin and the potential for uneven distribution in any Puffer Fish product 
sampling and testing is unreliable and therefore sampling and t esting for Tetrodotoxin for clearance purposes is not 
available.  
Sampling and testing may be required to verify species. MPI will develop any sampling and testing programme on a 
case by case basis  should this be considered necessary by a FAO .  
4.4 Managem ent of non-compliant consignments  
When clearance cannot be given because of non- compliance with import requirements, the non- complying 
consignments shall be destroyed at the importers cost and in consultation with MPI (or a representative nominated 
by MPI).   
 
4.6 Contact details for border clearance agency  
Food Safety at the border is carried out by MPI Verification Services. The first stop for importers seeking more 
information is:  
Central Clearing House  
MPI Verification Services  
Level 1, 96 New North Roa d, Eden Terrace, Auckland  
PO Box 3540, Eden Terrace, Auckland 
Email:  imported.food@mpi.govt.nz  
Fax: 09 909 6208  
Phone: 09 909 6210 or 09 909 6211  
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