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Importing and exporting koi

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: Importing and exporting koi internationally requires animal health certificates, pre-notification to regulatory authorities, and in many cases laboratory testing for notifiable diseases such as koi herpesvirus (KHV) before fish may cross borders.[1][2]

United Kingdom import rules

According to UK government guidance, anyone importing live fish, mollusks, or crustaceans for ornamental or other non-food purposes into England and Wales needs authorization from the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), Cefas, under the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.[1] The FHI must approve the source country and confirm it can meet animal health certification requirements, and importing without authorization can result in an unlimited fine.[1]Importers of ornamental coldwater fish such as koi must include a biosecurity measures plan describing how fish health and disease will be managed.[1] Imports from EU countries require an animal health certificate using the correct model template, issued by the competent authority at the source site, and pre-notification through the UK's Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) at least one working day before arrival.[1] Imports from non-EU countries must additionally enter through an approved Border Control Post for documentary, identity, and physical checks.[1] Errors in documentation for disease-susceptible species can trigger isolation and laboratory testing of a minimum of 30 animals, with results taking up to three weeks.[1]

Health certificates and export testing

Health certificates accompanying koi shipments are issued by a competent veterinary or regulatory authority at the source and must confirm that the consignment meets the importing country's animal health requirements.[1] In the United States, almost all international live-fish shipments require a health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, and exporters sending fish to European Union countries must have their facility registered with APHIS, which requires an annual on-site inspection by a veterinary medical officer.[3] Each individual shipment must then be inspected by a USDA-accredited veterinarian who issues the certificate, which is subsequently endorsed by the USDA, a process that can take additional time and incurs fees.[3]Testing for koi herpesvirus (KHV) commonly relies on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, which detect viral DNA in sampled tissue.[5][4] The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recommends sampling gill, kidney, and spleen tissue when testing clinically affected fish, and notes that fin clips can also be used for PCR detection since KHV DNA has been found in the caudal and pectoral fins of affected fish.[4] WOAH states that a confirmed case requires either virus isolation in cell culture or detection by real-time or conventional PCR, followed by sequencing of the amplified product.[4] According to UF/IFAS Extension, a positive PCR result indicates the virus is present and can confirm KHV disease in clinically sick fish, and may help identify carrier fish, but a negative result does not rule out carrier status, since no test definitively detects all carriers or survivors.[5]The All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association (JNPA) publishes a Nishikigoi export health certificate list on its website as part of its membership and export information services.[6] One US koi dealer, Kodama Koi Farm, states that it screens koi with PCR testing before export, describing this as part of its own quality and health protocols; this claim is attributed to the dealer and has not been independently verified.[7]

United States requirements

According to UF/IFAS Extension, USDA APHIS has no import health requirements specific to KHV for koi or other fish moving interstate or internationally, and there is no federal mandatory depopulation of KHV-infected koi populations in the United States; decisions are left to the owner and their veterinarian.[5] However, some importing countries specify that KHV-vaccinated fish will not be permitted entry, so breeders, dealers, exhibitors, and veterinarians are advised to check the requirements of the destination country.[5]For spring viremia of carp (SVC), another listed pathogen, samples collected to meet export requirements must be sent to a USDA-approved laboratory, and confirmation testing is completed at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories.[8] A farm may seek SVC-free status by testing at least 175 susceptible fish one year old or younger for SVC twice yearly under specific biosecurity standards, and must maintain annual testing to retain that status.[8]

Export of koi from Japan

Japan's Fisheries Agency reports that koi exports have grown steadily, reaching about ¥10 billion in a recent year, with the United States, Vietnam, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia among the largest destination markets.[2] In December 2022, koi (nishikigoi) were designated an export priority item by the Japanese government, and industry groups including the All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association have conducted overseas seminars, trade negotiations, and promotional activities to support export growth.[2]Because koi are sensitive to KHV, which has caused mortality rates of 70–100% in outbreaks in Japan since first being confirmed there in 2003, Japan has invested in diagnostic research, including improved PCR methods and non-destructive testing approaches, to support biosecurity for exports.[2] The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries notes that koi are shipped internationally in oxygenated plastic bags inside insulated containers, with feeding withheld for several days beforehand to reduce waste contamination of the water during transit.[9]

Shipping and transport considerations

Live koi are typically packed in plastic bags filled with water and oxygen, placed in insulated boxes, with a transport time limit of around 48 hours generally cited for export shipments by air.[2] Because of the weight of water needed to keep fish submerged, air freight costs for koi exports tend to be high, and shipping to inland destinations without direct flights from Japan can be more difficult.[2]General guidance for shipping ornamental fish from UF/IFAS Extension notes that boxes are sized according to the number of fish, sealed and labeled as containing live fish, and that permit and health certificate requirements vary by state and importing country, so shippers are advised to check both local and destination regulations.[10] A US koi dealer, Kodama Koi Farm, states that shipping costs to customers can range roughly from $99 to $330 or more per box depending on destination and that shipping outside the United States depends on each country's import requirements, including health certificates and other documentation that importers should confirm with their own government agency.[11]

Biosecurity and disease risk in trade

Cross-border movement of live fish is a recognized pathway for spreading pathogens, and biosecurity guidance from the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center recommends sourcing fish from suppliers who practice high standards of fish health management and who can provide a health certificate documenting testing for relevant pathogens.[12] Newly received fish and other animals or materials moving between facilities are identified as risk points for pathogen transfer that should be assessed as part of a facility's overall biosecurity plan.[12]KHV is present in Great Britain and is classified as a notifiable disease that must be reported immediately to the FHI, with outbreaks occurring in some ornamental koi populations as well as recreational fisheries.[13] There is no treatment for KHV, so UK guidance emphasizes prevention through good husbandry, biosecurity practices, and avoiding the purchase of fish of unknown origin.[13] Diagnosis of suspected disease in koi should involve a qualified fish veterinarian or diagnostic laboratory, as described for conditions such as KHV and spring viremia of carp.[5][8]

Common questions

Is a health certificate required to import or export koi?
Yes. UK guidance requires imported live fish to be accompanied by an animal health certificate issued by the competent authority at the source, and US shipments generally require a certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.[1][3]
What is PCR testing used for in koi trade?
PCR testing detects viral DNA, such as that of koi herpesvirus (KHV), in sampled tissue like gill, kidney, spleen, or fin clips, and is one of the direct methods used to confirm infection according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.[4][5]
Does a negative PCR test guarantee a koi is free of KHV?
No. According to UF/IFAS Extension, a negative result by direct or indirect testing does not necessarily mean a fish is not a carrier, and no test definitively detects all carriers or survivors.[5]
Where do most Japanese koi exports go?
Japan's Fisheries Agency lists the United States, Vietnam, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom among the largest destination markets for koi exports.[2]
How long can koi be transported during export?
A maximum transport time of around 48 hours is generally cited for air shipments of koi, according to Japan's Fisheries Agency.[2]

References

  1. ^ Importing or moving live fish and shellfish - GOV.UK. UK Government. gov.uk/guidance/importing-or-moving-live-fish-and-shellfish. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ Inland water fisheries information no. 47 (Fisheries Agency of Japan). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan). jfa.maff.go.jp/j/enoki/attach/pdf/naisuimeninfo-47.pdf. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ SRAC Publication No. 3903: Shipping Fish in Boxes. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. srac.msstate.edu/pdfs/Fact%20Sheets/3903%20Shipping%20Fish%20in%20B…. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals, ch. 2.3.6 Koi herpesvirus disease (WOAH). World Organisation for Animal Health. woah.org/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/aahm/current/2.3.06_KH…. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ UF/IFAS EDIS VM113: Koi Herpesvirus Disease (KHVD). University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS). ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VM113. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Membership list - All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association. jnpa.info/en/about/member/. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ Koi Herpes Virus (KHV): In-depth Exploration of the Deadly Virus to Prevent & Manage. Kodama Koi Farm (koi dealer). kodamakoifarm.com/koi-herpes-virus-khv-disease-guide/. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ UF/IFAS EDIS VM106: Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCv). University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS). ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VM106. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ 特集「年々、人気上昇中！ 錦鯉の魅力」：農林水産省. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan). maff.go.jp/j/pr/aff/2308/spe1_03.html. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ UF/IFAS EDIS FA120: Preparation of Ornamental Fish for Shipping. University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS). ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA120. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ How Much Do Koi Fish Cost? Koi Pricing Guide for USA. Kodama Koi Farm (koi dealer). kodamakoifarm.com/how-much-do-koi-fish-cost/. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ SRAC Publication No. 4712: Biosecurity in Aquaculture, Part 3: Ponds. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. srac.msstate.edu/pdfs/Fact%20Sheets/4712%20Biosecurity%20in%20Aquac…. Retrieved November 2026.
  13. ^ Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) - GOV.UK. UK Government. gov.uk/government/publications/koi-herpesvirus-khv/koi-herpesvirus-…. Retrieved November 2026.