DAFF - IFN : 13-26 Changes to import requirements for bivalve molluscs from the USA

Effective: 19 August 2026

Attention

Importers of bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products from the United States of America (USA), and brokers acting on their behalf.

Purpose

To provide notice of changes to import requirements for bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products from the USA.

Key points

• The department has successfully negotiated a foreign government certification arrangement for bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products exported from the USA to Australia.
• This arrangement has been negotiated under the Imported Food Control Act 1992 to manage food safety risks with imported bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products. Separately, biosecurity conditions also apply under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to imported bivalve molluscs.
• This arrangement covers bivalve molluscs exported from the USA, regardless of the country of origin.
• The arrangement commences 19 August 2026. From this date, bivalve molluscs and bivalve molluscs products (excluding those that are retorted and shelf stable, or dried) from the USA must have a recognised government certificate.
• Foreign government certificates are consignment specific and must be issued by the recognised competent authority. All consignments will be checked to verify the validity of the certificate.
• Consignments without a recognised government certificate will be directed for supervised re-export or supervised destruction at the importers expense.
• Consignments may also be referred to the Imported Food Inspection Scheme for analytical testing. During inspection we will also conduct a label and visual assessment.
• Bivalve molluscs include clams (including ark shells), cockles, mussels, oysters, pipis and scallops.
• Bivalve mollusc products are foods containing 50% or more bivalve mollusc meat (such as seafood mixes).

Instructions

• Find out about lodging documents for imported bivalve molluscs.

Further information

• Learn more about the biosecurity conditions for importing bivalve molluscs in the biosecurity case in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) under 'Seafood (excluding finfish) for human consumption'.
• Learn more about the analytical testing of bivalve molluscs in the food safety requirements case in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) under 'Molluscs and mollusc products'.
• For further enquiries on this matter, please email ifis-certification@aff.gov.au. 

Background

IFN 15-23 provided notice of mandatory certification requirements for bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products to manage food safety risks.

Consignments of bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products must be imported from a country that has a foreign government certification arrangement in place or is in the process of negotiating such an arrangement.

See the list of countries that have applied to export bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products to Australia.

The department has assessed and determined that the USA's system for the production and processing of bivalve molluscs and bivalve mollusc products provides comparable food safety outcomes to Australia's system.

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