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Import risk analysis report for ornamental finfish with
respect to gourami iridovirus and related viruses
Questions and Answers – February 2015
What is the latest on the import risk analysis for freshwater
ornamental fish?
The import risk analysis (IRA) has been completed. The final IRA report is available at:
www.agriculture.gov.au/ba/ira/final-animal/ornamental-finfish.
After considering the final IRA report, Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine has
made a policy determination that new revised quarantine measures for ornamental fish are
required to protect Australia’s industries and environment from exotic diseases of fish.
What are the new proposed requirements for imported ornamental
fish?
Imported fish belonging to the gourami, cichlid and poeciliid families for ornamental purposes
must be:

batch-tested negative for Megalocytivirus (a virus) prior to export under the supervision of
an approved overseas competent authority or sourced from an approved country, zone or
compartment free from the virus, and

subject to an on-going program of random post-arrival testing for Megalocytivirus as a
means of monitoring the effectiveness of overseas systems in ensuring the health status of
exported fish.
Other baseline controls that currently apply to all freshwater ornamental fish will also apply
including detention post-arrival in quarantine-approved premises for at least seven days.
What types of ornamental finfish were covered by the IRA?
The IRA covered:

the gourami family, such as dwarf gouramis, paradise fish and Siamese fighting fish

cichlids, such as angelfish and oscars

poeciliids, such as guppies, mollies, platys and swordtails.
These are ornamental fish comprising several species native to Asia and Africa, which are
sought after aquarium fish.
Department of Agriculture
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IRA report for ornamental finfish with respect to gourami iridovirus and related viruses:
Questions and Answers
February 2015
What is Megalocytivirus?
Megalocytivirus is a DNA virus within the family Iridoviridae. It can cause systemic infections in
a wide variety of fresh and marine fish. Transmission of Megalocytivirus is believed to occur
when a fish ingests tissues from infected fish or via contaminated water.
What are the clinical signs?
Megalocytivirus has caused mortalities in infected fish which can be significant in some
Australian native species. More recent studies have shown that many ornamental fish species
can be infected and not show clinical signs.
Does Australia import gouramis, cichlids and poeciliids?
Yes. Gouramis, cichlids and poeciliids are very popular with aquarium owners and hobbyists.
Large numbers are imported each year. They can be imported into Australia provided they meet
Australia’s quarantine requirements and are on the Department of Environment’s approved list
for live animal imports. The approved list is at: www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2014C00744.
When will the IRA’s recommendations be implemented?
The new arrangements for the importation of fish belonging to the gourami, cichlid and
poeciliid groups are to come into effect on 1 March 2016. The new arrangements will ensure
Australia has effective measures in place to manage the biosecurity risks posed by
Megalocytivirus with minimal disruption to trade.
Are any countries free from Megalocytivirus?
The ‘unrestricted risk’ estimation in the IRA report took into account the assumption that
Megalocytivirus is endemic to all countries that have been approved to export freshwater fish
species to Australia. All countries currently approved to export freshwater ornamental fish to
Australia can continue to export fish of the gourami, cichlid and poeciliid families, provided they
are able to certify to the new health requirements.
The attestation of country, zone or compartment freedom of Megalocytivirus in fish exported to
Australia will be based on active targeted surveillance undertaken by the exporting country’s
competent authority. Please note that the requirement for freedom from Megalocytivirus only
applies to freshwater ornamental fish belonging to the gourami, cichlid and poeciliid groups. All
other freshwater and marine fish will not be affected by this new certification requirement.
Further information about this matter is available at: www.agriculture.gov.au/ba/ira/finalanimal/ornamental-finfish.
Where can I find a copy of the new health requirements that
competent authorities of exporting countries have to certify?
A copy of the new model health certificate for gouramis, cichlids and poeciliids exported to
Australia can be found at: www.agriculture.gov.au/ba/ira/current-animal/ornamentalfinfish/quarantine-policy-freshwater-ornamental-finfish-approved-countries.
Telephone:
Internet:
Email:
+61 2 6272 3933
agriculture.gov.au
[email protected]
IRA report for ornamental finfish with respect to gourami iridovirus and related viruses:
Questions and Answers
February 2015
Can an exporting country use the test result for Megalocytivirus
generated in a laboratory located in a country that is not exporting
the ornamental fish?
As a general rule, the government competent authority in an exporting country could
subcontract the pre-export testing to a laboratory in another country (including Australia) that
has established the test using nested or quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction
(PCR).
The exporting country competent authority will need to be satisfied that it can use the results
generated from the laboratory in another country as the basis to certify a health certificate
condition. This will require the exporting country competent authority being confident that the
laboratory in another country has established either a nested or quantitative (real-time) PCRbased test method capable of detecting Megalocytivirus presence in subclinically infected fish.
Since Megalocytivirus is not a reportable disease under the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), are the new import regulations
internationally justifiable?
Megalocytivirus is listed as a nationally reportable disease and all Australian jurisdictions have
agreed to report the presence or absence of the virus to the department. This means an effective
passive surveillance is in place. With a combination of national controls including surveillance
and the absence of the disease in Australian native fish populations and waterways, Australia
considers that Megalocytivirus-related import conditions are justifiable in accordance with the
OIE Aquatic Code and under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement obligation.
Are only lethal testing methods available to show freedom from
Megalocytivirus?
Current testing methods for Megalocytivirus are lethal. However, the department has
encouraged overseas competent authorities to consider the development of non-lethal testing
methods such as gill tissue biopsy and faecal sampling. Upon requests from some of the
overseas competent authorities, Australia has started exploring a potential research project by
the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to develop a suitable non-lethal testing method for
quarantine purposes.
Who can I contact for further information about the new import
regulations for freshwater ornamental fish?
For further information on the new import regulations, please send an e-mail to:
[email protected].
Telephone:
Internet:
Email:
+61 2 6272 3933
agriculture.gov.au
[email protected]