Importing bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) and products containing BMS: foods of high regulatory interest

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Importing bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) and products containing BMS: foods of high regulatory interest

Bivalve molluscan shellfish must get food safety clearance

BMS and products containing BMS are high regulatory interest foods, which means they require food safety clearance at the border.

This is due to the potential development or presence of E.coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Norovirus, and marine biotoxins.

Learn about E.coli

Learn about Listeria monocytogenes

Learn about Norovirus [PDF, 48 KB]

Definitions

Bivalve molluscan shellfish mean shellfish which have two hinged shells, such as mussels, oysters, scallops, and clams.
Marine biotoxins include: Diarrhetic Shellfish Poison (DSP), Amnesic Shellfish Poison (ASP), Neurotoxic Shellfish Poison (NSP), Azaspiracid Shellfish Poison (AZP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP).
Scallop meat means the whole adductor muscle of the scallop with viscera and roe completely removed.

Import conditions and clearance requirements

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Marine biotoxins
• Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg
• Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg
• Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg
• Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg
• Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance requirement

Testing requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan Shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and Testing upon arrival in New Zealand	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan Shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and Testing upon arrival in New Zealand

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance requirement

Testing requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance requirement

Testing requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Option 1: Official Certificate	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance requirement

Testing requirement

Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.

Option 1: Official Certificate

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

UK countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Products permitted to be imported	Import conditions	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS	Product must not originate from the gulf states of the United States	Documented evidence confirming that the consignment does not contain BMS from the Gulf States of the United States.	Not applicable
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)		Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

From 1 June 2026, a new official certificate is available for food safety clearance of bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) and BMS products imported from Viet Nam.

This certificate can be used for food safety clearance of BMS and BMS products exported from Viet Nam that:

have been grown and processed in Viet Nam, or
have been processed in Viet Nam made from BMS that originally comes from another country eligible to export BMS to New Zealand.

The BMS can originate from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Chile, Peru, Thailand, Japan, or the Republic of Korea.

MPI will still accept the old certificates for BMS from Viet Nam that were issued before 1 June 2026.

The import conditions for products covered by the new official certificate are summarised in Table 9.1 of the new Food Notice: Requirements for Registered Food Importers and Imported Food for Sale 2026 [PDF, 849 KB]

The new certificate is only for food safety clearance. You will still need to meet biosecurity clearance requirements under the relevant Import Health Standard when importing BMS products.

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance Requirement	Testing Requirement
Bivalve molluscan Shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS	Option 1: Official Certificate Product must: a: be made using only BMS that originates from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Chile, Peru, Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea; and b: further handled and processed in Viet Nam, in accordance with the relevant hygiene and sanitary standards and requirements for products for export to the European Union, and c: be processed in establishments listed to the European Union, and d: be directly exported from Viet Nam to New Zealand.	Not applicable
Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.	All BMS E. coli n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g Marine biotoxins • Saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Okadaic acid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg • Domoic Acid ≤ 20 mg/kg • Brevetoxin-2 equivalent ≤ 0.8 mg/kg • Azaspiracid equivalent ≤ 0.16 mg/kg Ready-to-eat BMS only Listeria monocytogenes n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g Oysters only Norovirus not detected in 300 g
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported

Clearance Requirement

Testing Requirement

Bivalve molluscan Shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS

Option 1: Official Certificate

Product must:

a: be made using only BMS that originates from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Chile, Peru, Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea; and

b: further handled and processed in Viet Nam, in accordance with the relevant hygiene and sanitary standards and requirements for products for export to the European Union, and

c: be processed in establishments listed to the European Union, and

d: be directly exported from Viet Nam to New Zealand.

Not applicable

Option 2: Sampling and testing upon arrival in New Zealand.

All BMS
E. coli
n = 5, c = 1, m = 230 MPN/100g, M = 700 MPN/100g

Ready-to-eat BMS only
Listeria monocytogenes
n = 5, c = 0, m = not detected in 25 g

Oysters only
Norovirus not detected in 300 g

Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)

Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.

Not applicable

Products permitted to be imported	Clearance requirement	Testing requirement
Bivalve molluscan shellfish (BMS) (except for scallops that are adductor muscle only) and food that contains BMS.	Not permitted to be imported from countries not listed.	Not applicable
Scallops (whole adductor muscle only)	Documented evidence confirming that scallops consist of whole adductor muscle only, with the viscera and roe completely removed.	Not applicable

UPDATE - 1 June 2026

Bivalve molluscan shellfish must get food safety clearance

Definitions

Import conditions and clearance requirements

Australia

Canada

Chile

China

European Union

Japan

Korea (Republic of)

Peru

Thailand

United Kingdom

United States of America

Viet Nam

Other countries not listed