Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish

The Certificate for Export of Ornamental Fish is issued by FVA/IED/WRB (Ornamental fish section), to certify that the live fish in the consignment exported are free from diseases.


New application

Please familiarise yourself with the following before you apply for a new Food (Export) Health Certificate

• Terms & conditions 
• Explanatory notes

If you are submitting the supporting documents online, please get them ready in soft copy format. Alternatively, you may submit them offline (i.e. via fax, over the counter).

• Apply for new  Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish*. 
• I'm a foreigner applying for new Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish. 
• Resume my application for new  Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish. 
• Apply for new Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish by copying an existing application. 
• Apply for amendment of  Health Certificate to Export Ornamental Fish. 
• Enquire on my application's status now. 
• Pay for my New Certificate now. (For non-GIRO applicants only) 

 

Enquiry/Contact persons 

If you have any queries, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Please call the persons should you require further clarification or assistance.

1. The fish stocks stated in the packing lists must be conditioned or quarantined at the AVA-approved packing premise address under the Licence to import or export ornamental fish.
    
2. AVA may carry out inspections of the consignment and reserves the right to sample or test the water and/or fish stocks in the consignment as part of the inspections. 
    
3. AVA may impose additional sanitary requirements (e.g. quarantine detention) on the pre-export consignment, as and when it deems necessary.
    
4. Applicants who require laboratory analysis for fish disease certification must submit the sample for laboratory analysis one month in advance prior to export of shipment.  Costs will be incurred for any laboratory analysis to be conducted. For applicants under the AVA Accredited Ornamental Fish Exporters’ Scheme (AOFES), costs will be incurred only for laboratory analysis for any fish diseases not covered under the surveillance and sampling programme for accredited members.  AVA reserves the right not to carry out the laboratory analysis if it deems fit.
    
5. Results of pre-export consignment inspections or laboratory analysis for samples taken from the consignment will be taken into consideration in the application for the health certificate. AVA reserves the right to conduct any other inspection(s) of the consignment or the packing premises if it deems necessary. In the event of suspicion or confirmation of disease, after certification, AVA reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the health certificate.  Fees will be incurred for the inspections and health certificate issued. 
    
6. Requests for certifications or endorsements which are not supported by laboratory analysis, surveillance programmes or inspections will not be entertained.
    
7. The certification by AVA does not cover safety for human consumption.
    
8. Applicant must comply with the requirements or conditions imposed by the importing country.
    
9. AVA has the discretion to accept or reject a health certificate application.  Application that is incomplete will be rejected.
    
10. Applicant is to ensure that the correct documentation accompanies the outgoing consignment. 
     
11. AVA reserves the right to reject an application if CITES permit has not been obtained for any CITES species stated in the packing lists during application.
     
12. Application for health certificate must be made at least one working day prior to the date of issuance.
     
13. Applications for health certificates that are to be processed and approved on the same working day that AVA receives the application or request will be considered as “express service”.  A surcharge that is equivalent to the existing rate of the certificate will be imposed.
     
14. For any request by an applicant to amend the health certificate after the application has been approved or issued, a service fee of $9.45 per service request will be levied.
     
15. Application for health certificates with new or special requirements must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance for AVA’s consideration.
     
16. AVA may amend existing terms and conditions and/or impose further conditions as and when it deems necessary. 
     
17. Applicant must agree and comply with the terms and conditions for health certificate application before proceeding with any application.
     
18. The health certificate is only valid for 10 days from the date of issuance.
     
19. Refunds will not be entertained for any unused health certificate.
     

Explanatory Notes / Instructions / Guides to applicants

1. Definition of ornamental fish
   “Ornamental fish” means any fish that is bred for the purpose of display but not for human consumption, and includes the young and eggs and carcases thereof;
    
2. Definition of fish
   “Fish” includes any of the varieties of marine, brackish water or freshwater fishes, crustacea, aquatic mollusca, turtles, marine sponges, trepang and any other form of aquatic life and the young and eggs thereof;
   
3. Accredited Ornamental Fish Exporters’ Scheme (AOFES)
   Licensed exporters may participate in the quality assurance programme by the AVA known as the Accredited Ornamental  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	:	Do I need to apply for this health certificate every time there is an export?
Answer	:	Applicants need only apply for the health certificate when required by the competent authority of the importing country, or upon request by overseas companies/individuals or when they wish to provide an additional assurance to their consignee in the importing country

Question	:	What criteria/conditions do I need to fulfil?
Answer	:	Please refer to the terms & conditions for health certificate application.

Question	:	What do I need to submit?
Answer	:	You are required to submit the following:     a.    A duly completed application form in this website, and the details for the consignments under “Packing List” column     b.     AVA CITES permit reference number during your application if an endangered species is involved     c.     Additional health attestations required by the importing country (subject to  AVA approval)      d.     Declarations for some importing countries

Question	:	How soon can my application be processed?
Answer	:	The usual time taken for processing an application with all required fields completed and supporting documents submitted is 1 working day. Any incomplete or incorrect submission may be rejected.