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 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, 44 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

Expand all

Australia

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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

Canada

Toggle expandable

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

Chile

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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 be of Chilean origin (grown, harvested and processed in Chile).	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

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 be of Chilean origin (grown, harvested and processed in Chile).

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

China

Toggle expandable

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

European Union

Toggle expandable

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.

Japan

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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 be of Japanese origin (grown, harvested and processed in Japan).	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

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 be of Japanese origin (grown, harvested and processed in Japan).

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

Korea (Republic of)

Toggle expandable

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 be of Korean origin (grown, harvested and processed in the Republic of Korea).	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

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 be of Korean origin (grown, harvested and processed in the Republic of Korea).

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

Peru

Toggle expandable

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 be of Peruvian origin (grown, harvested and processed in Peru).	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

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 be of Peruvian origin (grown, harvested and processed in Peru).

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

Thailand

Toggle expandable

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 be of Thai origin (grown, harvested and processed in Thailand).	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

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 be of Thai origin (grown, harvested and processed in Thailand).

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

United Kingdom

Toggle expandable

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.

United States of America

Toggle expandable

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

Viet Nam

Toggle expandable

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 be of Vietnamese origin (grown, harvested and processed in Viet Nam)	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

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 be of Vietnamese origin (grown, harvested and processed in Viet Nam)

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

Other countries not listed

Toggle expandable

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

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

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