Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other… (chapter 03): which countries import it

Fact sheet

Code

03

Sector

Food and Drink

Headings in this chapter

• Fish; liveHeading 0301
• Fish; fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304Heading 0302
• Fish; frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304Heading 0303
• Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced); fresh, chilled or frozenHeading 0304
• Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before, or during the smoking processHeading 0305
• Crustaceans; in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, steamed or boiled, whether or not chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brineHeading 0306
• Molluscs; whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked molluscs, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking processHeading 0307
• Aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking processHeading 0308
• Flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, fit for human consumptionHeading 0309

Trade fairs in this sector

• Alimentaria Barcelona
• Anuga
• BIOFACH – World’s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food
• Fruit Attraction
• Gulfood
• ProWein Düsseldorf
• Salón Gourmets
• SIAL – Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL Paris)
• Summer Fancy Food Show
• Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris

What you need to know to export seafood

Chapter 03 products are live, fresh, chilled, frozen, or processed aquatic animals: fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates. Each heading has different tariff rates and handling requirements depending on the destination country.

The product classification matters because it determines the duty rate when you cross a border. Fresh fish (heading 0302) enters different duty schedules than frozen fish (heading 0303) or prepared products (heading 0305). Check the exact heading with your freight forwarder or the importer before quoting.

Temperature control is critical. Products in headings 0301–0308 must maintain cold chain integrity from packing to final destination. A break in the cold chain can make the shipment non-compliant or unmarketable. Use licensed cold storage and schedule shipments to minimize transit time.

Tariff rates vary widely by destination and product. The United States and Japan have different tariff schedules for the same product. China applies different rates to fresh versus frozen seafood. Always confirm the applicable rate with your buyer or a customs agent in the destination country before finalizing the price.

The largest importing markets for Chapter 03 are the United States, China, Japan, and Spain itself. European markets (Italy, France, Germany, Poland) are also significant. Your choice of market affects packaging, documentation, and logistics.

Common questions about exporting seafood