The project seeks to address a core need of Australian Seafood CRC participants for timely, simple access to international residue and contaminant standards, export certification requirements, tariff and customs information to support export activities. Currently this information does not exist in an easily accessible, simple format to inform industry of its technical market access needs.

For example, as a consequence of the melamine issue in China affecting dairy products Australian aquaculture exporters are now being required to demonstrate proof of absence in products (and in feed fed) by overseas port of entry authorities. The rapid emergence of the melamine issue has seen standards hurriedly imposed in markets including China and Hong Kong for seafood products. Melamine is symbolic of many traceability issues which are now starting to confront the seafood industry.

Industry needs better preparedness to respond to international market access issues such as cadmium in prawns in the EU. SSA facilitated a position at the CODEX meeting in Norway on cadmium in crustacea. The strategy was thwarted by lack of access to detailed standards and related documents (on standards in other markets etc). Similarly for arsenic in shellfish.

Lead content of tuna being exported to Japan was brought into question following a violative reading being reported. Further investigation found that the portion (tail fin) of tuna submitted for analysis.

The emergence of Non Government Organisation endorsements such as Friend of the Sea, Marine Stewardship Council etc are now introducing effectively what are private label standards for products traded in multiple standards.

The CODEX Alimentarius process is growing and there is a need to inform national delegation and working groups of specific individual country circumstances quickly. The marine vibrio issue that emerged in mid 2008 in Japan was swiftly resolved as the PI had access to Japanese documents and standards.