Enforcement of New Aquatic Animal Import Regulations to Begin in December

The three US federal agencies that function as Competent Authorities for exported aquatic animals (the US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [USDA-APHIS]; the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service [NOAA Fisheries]; and the US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services [FWS]) have worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on specific export requirements that will facilitate continued US trade in aquatic animals and products with Canada.

As of December 10, 2012, each shipment must be accompanied by an import permit issued from CFIA and a health certificate from APHIS.

The regulated species and the diseases of concern are at the link below.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/aquatic-animals/diseases/susceptiblespecies/eng/1327162574928/1327162766981

Two health certificates are nearly finalised and will be available in early November. Specific attestations for these certificates are available on-line.

Additionally, APHIS is working closely with CFIA to establish zones of equal disease health status and compartmentalisation (management) equivalence programmes to facilitate trade and provide alternative means for US exporters to meet CFIA requirements. APHIS anticipates some of these options will be available in 2013.