Fish farms (aquaculture) and food safety requirements
Although fish farms (aquaculture) come under the Resource Management Act, if you supply farmed fish for human consumption, you must meet some food safety requirements.
Fish farmers need a risk management programme (RMP), food control programme (FCP), or a National Programme.
Meeting the requirements for farmed fish
If you farm fish intended for human consumption, including paua but excluding bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS), you must comply with the Animal Products Notice: Specifications for Products intended for Human Consumption.
Under this notice, when you supply farmed fish to a primary processor, you must provide them with a supplier statement.
- Supplier Statement for the Supply of Farmed Fish for Human Consumption (other than BMS) [PDF, 117 KB]
There is more information about these requirements in Part 11, clauses 11.3 and 11.4 of the specifications.
Find out about the requirements for BMS:
Exporting farmed fish
If you export farmed fish to some countries, you have to comply with the requirements of that country. For some markets, fish samples are taken to check for residues in the fish. MPI maintains a list of country requirements.
- Animal Products (Regulated Control Scheme – Contaminant Monitoring and Surveillance) Regulations 2004
- Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs)
Find out more about the requirements for exporting seafood:
Setting up a fish farm
Learn about setting up a fish farm