Imported seafood

(2 August 2007)

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has recently announced that the testing of seafood imported into Australia is now being extended to include additional residue testing for antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, quinolones and penicillin see http://www.maff.gov.au/releases/07/07107pm.html .

Imported and locally produced fish have been subject to surveys and regular monitoring for chemical residues, see http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/food/surveys/seafood and http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/foodsurveillancenewsletter/springsummer2005/index.cfm#_fish    To date, the results of this monitoring have indicated good compliance with the requirements in the Food Standards Code and action is taken by compliance agencies where non-complying residues of antibiotics have been found.

Any food that is sold in Australia, whether locally produced or imported, must meet the requirements in food legislation, including the requirements in the Food Standards Code.  The compliance of food imported into Australia is collaboratively managed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) through the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, and, once imported, by State, Territory and local government authorities. 

For more information about the imported food inspection scheme see http://www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/import/food/fact-sheet    

For more information about how maximum residue limits are set for agricultural chemicals see http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2002/limitingchemicalresi1424.cfm