Unprocessed abalone gazetted requirements
Temporary restrictions are in place for unprocessed abalone coming into SA from interstate, including recreationally caught abalone:
The restrictions were announced in May 2021, following the detection of abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) in Cape Nelson, Victoria.
AVG-affected states are:
- Tasmania
- Victoria.
AVG-free states are:
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia.
The restrictions on unprocessed abalone ensure that South Australian waters remain free of the disease. Unprocessed abalone includes:
- live abalone
- fresh abalone product (including frozen abalone).
Requirements for fish processors
Accredited farms in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Accredited farms in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Fish processors must meet the following requirements when receiving unprocessed abalone from accredited farms in AVG-free states:
Documentation required
- Copy of farm's certificate of accreditation.
- Consignment note – must have details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (with identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Leaving the processor to point of sale (retail or restaurant only)
Unprocessed and processed abalone is permitted to leave the processor to the point of sale (retail or restaurant only) in sealed, decontaminated containers with accompanying documentation.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor’s premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Accredited farms in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Accredited farms in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Fish processors must meet the following requirements when receiving unprocessed abalone from accredited farms in AVG-affected states:
Documentation required
- Copy of farm's certificate of accreditation.
- Abalone Health Statement ().
- Consignment note – must have details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (including identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Leaving the processor to point of sale (retail or restaurant only)
Unprocessed and processed abalone is permitted to leave the processor to the point of sale (retail or restaurant only) in decontaminated, sealed containers with accompanying documentation.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone are transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor’s premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning)
Wild caught abalone in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Wild caught abalone in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Fish processors must meet the following requirements when receiving wild caught unprocessed abalone from AVG-free states:
Documentation required
- Consignment note – must include details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (including identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Leaving the processor to point of sale (retail or restaurant only)
Wild caught unprocessed abalone is permitted to leave the processor to the point of sale (retail or restaurant only) in decontaminated, sealed containers with accompanying documentation.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor’s premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Wild caught abalone in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Wild caught abalone in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Note: Wild caught abalone from AVG-affected states can never be kept alive in water.
Fish processors must meet the following requirements when receiving wild caught unprocessed abalone from AVG-affected states:
Documentation required
- Consignment note – must include details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (including identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Leaving the processor to point of sale (retail or restaurant only) – not permitted
Wild caught unprocessed abalone from AVG-affected states is not permitted to leave the processor.
Only processed abalone is permitted to leave the processor to the point of sale (retail or restaurant only).
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor's premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Requirements for retail and restaurants
Accredited farms in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Accredited farms in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Retail and restaurants must meet the following requirements when receiving unprocessed abalone from accredited farms in AVG-free states:
Documentation required
- Copy of farm's certificate of accreditation.
- Consignment note – must include details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (including identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor's premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Accredited farms in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Accredited farms in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Retail and restaurants must meet the following requirements when receiving unprocessed abalone from accredited farms in AVG-affected states:
Documentation required
- Copy of farm's certificate of accreditation.
- Abalone Health Statement ().
- Consignment note – must include details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (including identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor's premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Wild caught abalone in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Wild caught abalone in AVG-free states (NSW, NT, Qld and WA)
Retail and restaurants must meet the following requirements when receiving wild caught unprocessed abalone from AVG-free states:
Documentation required
- Consignment note – must have details of consigner, origin of unprocessed abalone, destination (with identity of person to be delivered to), and where carrier took delivery.
Waste disposal
All unused unprocessed abalone must be transported directly to a waste depot in sealed containers where they are disposed of in landfill.
Water disposal
Water that has come into contact with unprocessed abalone must be decontaminated and then disposed of in the public sewer.
Equipment or other requirements
All water, tanks, containers and other equipment that have come into contact with unprocessed abalone are decontaminated before disposal or removal from the fish processor's premises.
Transport requirements into SA
Unprocessed abalone must:
- enter South Australia in sealed, decontaminated containers
- remain sealed in the same container until sold or processed (e.g. cooking or canning).
Wild caught abalone in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Wild caught abalone in AVG-affected states (Tas. and Vic.)
Retail and restaurants are not permitted to have wild caught unprocessed abalone from AVG-affected states.
Accredited farms
Accredited farms are designated aquaculture suppliers with a certificate of accreditation from their corresponding state or territory government.
A certificate of accreditation confirms that a designated farm:
- has implemented biosecurity measures to prevent AVG
- has not detected AVG at its aquaculture facilities in the past 12 months.
Accredited farms must:
- monitor mortality rates
- report mortality and disease to their state or territory government.
Guidelines for decontamination
Decontamination should include the use of 200 ppm effective chlorine (e.g. 31 grams of pool chlorine in 100 litres of water) for at least 20 minutes. For full details:
- visit the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority permit search
- search for permit PER86206.
For more information and alternative options, see Decontamination processes for commercial abalone divers: Standard operating procedure (PDF).
Requirements for the public
Unprocessed abalone – not permitted
Unprocessed abalone – not permitted
Members of the public are not permitted to bring unprocessed abalone into South Australia from any state, including AVG-free states.
Unprocessed abalone means live abalone or fresh abalone product. This includes frozen abalone, which is not considered 'processed'.
Processed abalone
Processed abalone
Members of the public are permitted to bring processed abalone into South Australia.
This means abalone processed in a manner which kills the AVG virus e.g. cooking or canning.