Changes

The department has updated the content of the ‘Pet fish food’ BICON case to include a pathway for ‘Bloodworms, tubifex worms, krill, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp for pet fish food use’.

Importers are now able to apply for an import permit for these goods using a standard import permit pathway. The standard pathway includes conditions requiring manufacturers to verify that:

• No ingredients of terrestrial (including avian) animal origin were used during manufacturing of the product. This includes egg products, dairy products and feathers.
• The only ingredients of plant origin that may be present in the product are highly processed plant extracts and oils.
• The product has not been exposed to contamination after processing and has been packed in clean, new packaging only.
• The product has been packed into retail packages that are no greater than 5 kg per individually packaged unit.

Consignments of bloodworms, tubifex worms, krill, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp exported to Australia will be treated onshore with ionising radiation to a level that achieves a minimum absorbed dose of 50 kGy before being released to the importer.

The product must be labelled for direct retail sale in individual package sizes of no greater than 5 kg. If the consignment is found not to be in retail packaging or in package sizes greater than 5 kg then the consignment must be exported or disposed of with all costs to be borne by the importer.

These conditions mitigate biosecurity risks associated with imported bloodworms, tubifex worms, krill, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp to a level consistent with Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection (as defined under the Biosecurity Act 2015).

Importers are still able to submit their permit application for ‘Bloodworms, tubifex worms, krill, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp for pet fish food use’ using a non-standard permit pathway.

Who does this alert affect:
Departmental staff and Australian importers of pet fish food.

Background:
Updates to case content will improve the experience for users of the department's BICON database.

Further information:
Please contact the department on 1800 900 090 (prompt 1, prompt 1) or via email at imports@agriculture.gov.au.