{"id":"F2015L00429","name":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.2.3 – Fish and fish products","slug":"f2015l00429","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":315805,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L00429-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.2.3 – Fish and fish products","content":"Standard 2.2.3 Fish and fish products\n\nNote 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nNote 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nNote 3 This Code does not define specific names for fish. The Australian Fish Names Standard (AS 5300) provides guidance on standard fish names to be used in Australia..\n\n1. Copies of the Standard may be purchased at [https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/standards/as-5300-2019-111200\\_saig\\_as\\_as\\_2741382/](https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/standards/as-5300-2019-111200_saig_as_as_2741382/).\n\n2. The Standard is available for viewing, at no cost to the user, at [http://www.fishnames.com.au](https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishnames.com.au%2F&data=05%7C01%7CSharon.Scully%40foodstandards.gov.au%7C7bb426e0519b40f966d308dac91cb426%7C6deea5ad8e7945b888fe895f2bb48673%7C0%7C0%7C638043422367543474%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bDtTctFPd9K%2B5FcGWE6zmGVjal9vDPq3QpmGVvUlQUI%3D&reserved=0).\n\n3. A searchable database of Australian Standard Fish Names is available at [http://www.fishnames.com.au](https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishnames.com.au%2F&data=05%7C01%7CSharon.Scully%40foodstandards.gov.au%7C7bb426e0519b40f966d308dac91cb426%7C6deea5ad8e7945b888fe895f2bb48673%7C0%7C0%7C638043422367543474%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bDtTctFPd9K%2B5FcGWE6zmGVjal9vDPq3QpmGVvUlQUI%3D&reserved=0).\n\n4. New Zealand common, Maori, and scientific names for fish species are available at [https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/seafood-processing-storage-testing/fish-names-labelling-requirements/](https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/seafood-processing-storage-testing/fish-names-labelling-requirements/).\n\n2.2.3—1 Name\n\nThis Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.2.3 – Fish and fish products.\n\nNote Commencement:  \nThis Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.\n\n2.2.3—2 Definitions\n\nNote In this Code (see section 1.1.2—3):\n\nfish means a cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate or aquatic invertebrate including shellfish, but not including amphibians or reptiles.\n\n2.2.3—3 Labelling of formed or joined fish\n\nFor the labelling provisions, for a food that consists of raw fish that has been formed or joined in the semblance of a cut or fillet of fish using a binding system without the application of heat, whether coated or not, the following information is required:\n\n(a) a declaration that the food is either formed or joined;\n\n(b) in conjunction with that declaration, cooking instructions that would result in microbiological safety of the food being achieved.\n\nNote 1 The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.\n\nNote 2 Section 1.4.1—3 and section S19—6 prescribe the maximum level of histamine permitted in fish and fish products.\n\n  \n\nAmendment History\n\nThe Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Standard. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.\n\nThese amendments are made under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 unless otherwise indicated. Amendments do not have a specific date for cessation unless indicated as such.\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis is compilation No. 2 of Standard 2.2.3 as in force on 19 July 2023 (up to Amendment No. 220). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.\n\nPrepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 19 July 2023.\n\nUncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect\n\nTo assist stakeholders, the effect of any uncommenced amendments or provisions which will cease to have effect, may be reflected in the Standard as shaded boxed text with the relevant commencement or cessation date. These amendments will be reflected in a compilation registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments including or omitting those amendments and provided in the Amendment History once the date is passed.\n\nThe following abbreviations may be used in the table below:\n\nad = added or inserted am = amended\n\nexp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed\n\nrs = repealed and substituted\n\nStandard 2.2.3 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00429–- 31 March 2015) and has since been amended as follows:\n\n| Section affected | A’ment No. | FRLI registrationGazette                  | Commencement(Cessation) | How affected | Description of amendment           |\n| ---------------- | ---------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------ | ---------------------------------- |\n| Note 3           | 200        | F2021L006842 June 2021FSC1413 June 2021   | 3 June                  | am           | Note 3 links to documents amended. |\n| Note 3           | 220        | F2023L0100411 July 2023FSC16019 July 2023 | 19 July 2023            | rs           | Repeal the note, and substitute.   |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The standard appears focused and narrow, addressing its original purpose of regulating fish product labelling and safety. The amendment history shows only minor updates to reference links (Notes 3), not expansion of substantive scope."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 1.5 pages of substantive content)","Only one substantive operational requirement (labelling of formed/joined fish)","Minimal defined terms (only 'fish' is defined within this standard)","Simple conditional structure (single 'if-then' requirement for labelling)","Heavy reliance on external documents (AS 5300, other Standards) rather than internal complexity","No nested exceptions or complex logical operators"],"plain_english_summary":"This standard sets labelling and sale rules for fish and fish products across Australia and New Zealand, requiring clear disclosure and safe cooking instructions for restructured or “formed/joined” raw fish and linking to other food-safety limits and naming guidance. It affects fish manufacturers, processors, importers and retailers, and protects consumers by improving transparency and reducing microbiological risks from undercooked, restructured products."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The core regulatory scope—definition of 'fish' and the labelling and cooking‑instruction requirement for formed or joined raw fish—remains the same. Amendments recorded (notably Amendment Nos. 200 and 220) updated linked documents and notes (publication/availability references) rather than expanding substantive obligations or changing who is covered."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused substantive obligations (definition of 'fish' and labelling requirement for formed/joined fish).","Cross‑references to other Code provisions (Standard 1.2.1; sections 1.4.1—3 and S19—6) create reliance on external rules for labelling mechanics and histamine limits.","References to an external voluntary Australian Standard for fish names (AS 5300) and online databases increase dependency on off‑Code material for naming conventions.","Potential ambiguity in the phrase 'formed or joined in the semblance of a cut or fillet' which may require factual or technical interpretation by businesses and regulators.","Requirement that cooking instructions 'would result in microbiological safety' imposes a technical performance obligation (producer must ensure instructions are adequate), not just descriptive labelling.","Administrative metadata (commencement date, amendment history and archived notes) add tracing costs for compliance over time."],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard sets simple, practical rules for fish products: it defines “fish” (includes aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, excludes amphibians and reptiles) and requires raw fish that has been formed or joined to be labelled as such and to carry cooking instructions that will achieve microbiological safety. It also points users to the Australian Fish Names Standard (AS 5300) and cross‑references histamine limits elsewhere in the Code. Who pays: producers and packagers must label and provide safe-cooking directions; regulators use cross‑references to enforce limits."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/f2015l00429","history":"/api/acts/f2015l00429/history","analysis":"/api/acts/f2015l00429/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/f2015l00429/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/f2015l00429/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/f2015l00429/documents"}}