Animal health certification requirements for import of ornamental fish into 
Singapore 
 
1. Scope 
1.1 Ornamental fish refers to the ornamental vari eties of marine, brackish water or fresh water 
fish, crustacean and aquatic mollusca. It exclud es fish and fish products intended for human 
consumption. 
 
1.2 Health certificates are required for ever y shipment of ornamental fish imported into 
Singapore which are either susceptible1 or can act as vector to the following disease(s): 
 
S/N Disease Susceptible 
species  
 Species which shall 
be regarded as 
vectors  
 
a. Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) 
 As listed in OIE2 - 
b. Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) 
 As listed in OIE - 
c. Epizootic ulcerative syndrome 
(EUS) 
 As listed in OIE - 
d.  Epizootic haematopoietic 
necrosis (EHN) 
 As listed in OIE 
 Goldfish ( Carassius 
auratus ), koi carp 
(Cyprinus carpio ) 
 
e.  Furunculosis ( Aeromonas 
Salmonicida ) 
 Goldfish ( Carassius 
auratus ) 
 - 
f.  Goldfish haematopoietic necrosis 
virus (GFHNV) Goldfish ( Carassius 
auratus ) 
  
g. White spot disease (WSD) 
(White Spot Syndrome virus 
WSSV) 
 As listed in OIE - 
 
  1.3 Irrespective of paragraph 1.2, health certificates are required for every shipment of marine 
ornamental fish imported into Singapore.  
                                                 
1A susceptible species is a species of aquatic animal in which infection has been demonstrated by 
natural causes or by experimental exposures to the disease agent that mimics the natural pathways for infection as defined by OIE. 
 
2 Susceptible species in accordance to the latest edition of the OIE Aquatic Animal health Code 
(http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/fcode/en_sommaire.htm ) and the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic 
Animals ( http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/fmanual/A_summry.htm ). 2. Documentation 
The importation shall be accompanied by an origi nal copy of health certificate issued by the 
competent authority (CA) of the exporting country  within ten days prior to the shipment, in 
English, and providing information on the following: 
 
2.1 Consignment details  
i. Name and address of the aquaculture establishment of origin or location of harvest 
ii. Date of the shipment 
iii. Name of the exporting country 
iv. Name and address of the exporter 
v. Name of the competent authority of the exporting country 
vi. Country of destination 
vii. Name and address of the importer 
 
2.2 Identification of the animals  
i. Species: Scientific name and common name 
ii. Quantity (in pieces) 
iii. Total number of packages 
 
2.3 Health Information  
 
2.3.1 Health attestation that the fish in the consignment are free from the diseases listed 
under paragraph 1.2 as follows: 
 
2.3.1.1 The fish originate from a country or a zone or an area or an aquaculture establishment 
that has been subject to an official fish health surveillance system equivalent to the relevant OIE standard and is officially recognized (by the CA of the country) as being free from Spring 
viraemia of carp (SVC)*, Koi herpesvirus di sease (KHV)*, Epizootic ulcerative syndrome 
(EUS)*, Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis (EHN)* and White spot disease (WSD)*.  
 
2.3.1.2 For Furunculosis ( Aeromonas Salmonicida) * and Goldfish haematopoietic necrosis 
virus (GFHNV)*, there is absence of clinical signs suggestive of infection. 
 
2.3.1.3 The fish have been examined within seven days before loading and found to be 
healthy and free from any clinical signs of disease 
 2.3.1.4 The fish have not been kept in water in common with koi carp
3 or farmed foodfish (fish 
farmed for human consumption incl uding recreational fishing).  
 
* Keep as appropriate for the susceptible species 
 
 
2.3.2 Additional health requirements for cons ignment(s) containing marine ornamental fish: 
 
2.3.2.1 The fish are not sourced from a population associated with any significant infectious 
disease or pests and there have not been any unusual or substantial outbreaks of infectious 
fish disease or pests in the areas from which the fish have been collected during the 6 months 
prior to collection.  
 
2.3.2.2 The fish were collected from an area at least 5 kilometres from any foodfish 
aquaculture operation and the fish in the consignment have not come into contact with water, equipment or fish associated with farmed foodfish (fish farmed for human consumption 
including recreational fishing). 
                                                 
3 Except in the case of export of koi carp.  
2.3.2.3 The fish are wild caught and have not been bred or hatched on a farm or other 
premises. 
 
2.3.3 The aforementioned health certificate may be drawn up taking reference from the model 
certificate of the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE and shall include the following: 
i. The certificate reference number on every page 
ii. Name, address, official position, date, signature and official stamp of the CA 
iii. A certificate issued shall be valid for 10 days from the date of issue. 
 
  
3. Labeling of consignments 
3.1 The consignment is identified by a legibl e label on the exterior of every packing bag or 
container with the following information: 
 
3.1.1 Name of establishment of origin or harvest 
 
3.1.2 Name of importer