Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. This chapter includes all live or dead edible aquatic organisms, but certain specific species (such as whales, dolphins, etc.) are classified in other chapters. Within the chapter, it is subdivided by degree of processing (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, smoked, salted, etc.) and by species, and is a core chapter for trade in aquatic products. Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (0304), fish livers and roes (0303), and whole or cut smoked fish (0305). This heading includes fresh fish for human consumption, usually kept at low temperature but not frozen, covering both marine and freshwater fish. Code 030213 is a six-digit subheading: the first two digits 03 represent Chapter 03 "Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates"; digits 3-4, 02, represent the heading "Fresh or chilled fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304"; digits 5-6, 13, represent the subheading "Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)". Of these, the 5th digit 1 indicates salmonidae, and the 6th digit 3 specifically refers to Atlantic salmon. Note that this subheading applies only to fresh or chilled state, and the species must be Atlantic salmon. This product is fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, not frozen, smoked, salted or otherwise processed, and is not fillets or fish meat, so it is classified under 0302 rather than 0303 (frozen fish), 0304 (fillets) or 0305 (smoked fish). At the same time, the species is Atlantic salmon, so under 0302 it is further classified under 030213, rather than other salmon subheadings.
Chapter
Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. This chapter includes all live or dead edible aquatic organisms, but certain specific species (such as whales, dolphins, etc.) are classified in other chapters. Within the chapter, it is subdivided by degree of processing (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, smoked, salted, etc.) and by species, and is a core chapter for trade in aquatic products.
Heading
Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (0304), fish livers and roes (0303), and whole or cut smoked fish (0305). This heading includes fresh fish for human consumption, usually kept at low temperature but not frozen, covering both marine and freshwater fish.
Digit Breakdown
Code 030213 is a six-digit subheading: the first two digits 03 represent Chapter 03 "Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates"; digits 3-4, 02, represent the heading "Fresh or chilled fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304"; digits 5-6, 13, represent the subheading "Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)". Of these, the 5th digit 1 indicates salmonidae, and the 6th digit 3 specifically refers to Atlantic salmon. Note that this subheading applies only to fresh or chilled state, and the species must be Atlantic salmon.
Classification Basis
This product is fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon, not frozen, smoked, salted or otherwise processed, and is not fillets or fish meat, so it is classified under 0302 rather than 0303 (frozen fish), 0304 (fillets) or 0305 (smoked fish). At the same time, the species is Atlantic salmon, so under 0302 it is further classified under 030213, rather than other salmon subheadings.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: The specific name of the declared commodity should state "fresh Atlantic salmon" or "chilled Atlantic salmon", and indicate the state (whole, head-off, etc.). Latin scientific name: The Latin scientific name of the species must be provided. Atlantic salmon is Salmo salar, ensuring correspondence with the code. State: Clearly indicate fresh or chilled, and whether whole, gutted, head-off, etc. Chilled temperature is usually 0-4°C. Specification: Declare by weight per fish or weight per box, such as "3-4 kg per fish", to facilitate customs statistics and valuation. Origin: The country/region of capture or farming, such as Norway, Chile, Scotland, etc., affecting tariffs and trade measures. Brand: If there is a brand, the brand name must be declared; if no brand, fill in "none". Packaging type: Such as "foam box with ice" or "refrigerated container", reflecting transport conditions. Product name: Fresh Atlantic salmon (whole, gutted); Latin scientific name: Salmo salar; State: chilled, temperature 0-2°C; Specification: 4-5 kg per fish, 2 fish per box; Origin: Norway; Brand: none; Packaging: foam box with ice. Mistaking Atlantic salmon for rainbow trout; rainbow trout is classified under 030214 or 030219. Declaring chilled as frozen, resulting in classification under 0303, with different tariff rates and regulatory conditions. Ignoring declaration of the Latin scientific name; customs may require supplementation, delaying customs clearance.
Product name
The specific name of the declared commodity should state "fresh Atlantic salmon" or "chilled Atlantic salmon", and indicate the state (whole, head-off, etc.).
⚠️ Writing only "salmon" without specifying Atlantic salmon, which is easily confused with rainbow trout.
Latin scientific name
The Latin scientific name of the species must be provided. Atlantic salmon is Salmo salar, ensuring correspondence with the code.
⚠️ Mistakenly writing Oncorhynchus nerka (sockeye salmon) or other salmonid fish.
State
Clearly indicate fresh or chilled, and whether whole, gutted, head-off, etc. Chilled temperature is usually 0-4°C.
⚠️ Mistakenly declaring frozen state as chilled, leading to incorrect classification.
Specification
Declare by weight per fish or weight per box, such as "3-4 kg per fish", to facilitate customs statistics and valuation.
⚠️ Vague specification description, such as "uniform size", lacking a specific weight range.
Origin
The country/region of capture or farming, such as Norway, Chile, Scotland, etc., affecting tariffs and trade measures.
⚠️ Writing only "Europe" without specifying the country.
Brand
If there is a brand, the brand name must be declared; if no brand, fill in "none".
⚠️ Ignoring brand declaration, resulting in omission.
Packaging type
Such as "foam box with ice" or "refrigerated container", reflecting transport conditions.
⚠️ Mistakenly declaring vacuum packaging as bulk packaging.
Example： Product name: Fresh Atlantic salmon (whole, gutted); Latin scientific name: Salmo salar; State: chilled, temperature 0-2°C; Specification: 4-5 kg per fish, 2 fish per box; Origin: Norway; Brand: none; Packaging: foam box with ice.
Common Mistakes：
Mistaking Atlantic salmon for rainbow trout; rainbow trout is classified under 030214 or 030219.
Declaring chilled as frozen, resulting in classification under 0303, with different tariff rates and regulatory conditions.
Ignoring declaration of the Latin scientific name; customs may require supplementation, delaying customs clearance.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the Import and Export Tariff and the HS Explanatory Notes. First, the commodity must belong to Chapter 03 aquatic animals; second, the state must be fresh or chilled, not frozen, smoked or otherwise processed; third, the species must be Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). At the same time, fillets, fish meat and other cut products must be excluded, as these are classified under 0304. If whole or gutted but not sliced, it is still classified under 0302. 030214 Fresh or chilled rainbow trout: Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), although belonging to Salmonidae, is not Atlantic salmon and is usually freshwater farmed, so classification differs. 030219 Other fresh or chilled salmonidae: Includes Pacific salmon (such as sockeye salmon, chum salmon), etc., but Atlantic salmon has a separate subheading and is not classified here. 030313 Frozen Atlantic salmon: The state is frozen, not fresh or chilled; the processing method differs, and regulatory conditions and tariff rates may differ. 030441 Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon fillets: Already sliced, belonging to fillets, classified under 0304; even if fresh or chilled, it is not classified under 0302. 030541 Smoked Atlantic salmon: Has undergone smoking processing, classified under 0305; fresh or chilled state does not apply. Confirm the Latin scientific name is Salmo salar. Confirm the state is fresh or chilled, not frozen. Confirm it is not sliced, smoked or salted. Confirm it is whole or gutted but remains intact. Check the origin and trade measures (such as anti-dumping).
Basis
The core basis for classification is the Import and Export Tariff and the HS Explanatory Notes. First, the commodity must belong to Chapter 03 aquatic animals; second, the state must be fresh or chilled, not frozen, smoked or otherwise processed; third, the species must be Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). At the same time, fillets, fish meat and other cut products must be excluded, as these are classified under 0304. If whole or gutted but not sliced, it is still classified under 0302.
Confused Codes：
030214 - Fresh or chilled rainbow trout
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), although belonging to Salmonidae, is not Atlantic salmon and is usually freshwater farmed, so classification differs.
030219 - Other fresh or chilled salmonidae
Includes Pacific salmon (such as sockeye salmon, chum salmon), etc., but Atlantic salmon has a separate subheading and is not classified here.
030313 - Frozen Atlantic salmon
The state is frozen, not fresh or chilled; the processing method differs, and regulatory conditions and tariff rates may differ.
030441 - Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon fillets
Already sliced, belonging to fillets, classified under 0304; even if fresh or chilled, it is not classified under 0302.
030541 - Smoked Atlantic salmon
Has undergone smoking processing, classified under 0305; fresh or chilled state does not apply.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm the Latin scientific name is Salmo salar.
✓ Confirm the state is fresh or chilled, not frozen.
✓ Confirm it is not sliced, smoked or salted.
✓ Confirm it is whole or gutted but remains intact.
✓ Check the origin and trade measures (such as anti-dumping).
❓ FAQ
How to distinguish Atlantic salmon from rainbow trout? Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) look similar, but can be distinguished by Latin scientific name. Atlantic salmon is usually marine, larger in size, with a narrower tail; rainbow trout is mostly freshwater farmed, smaller in size, with rainbow-colored stripes on the sides. When declaring, the Latin scientific name must be provided. What is the difference in HS codes between fresh Atlantic salmon and frozen Atlantic salmon? Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon is classified under 030213, and frozen under 030313. The processing states differ, and tariff rates and regulatory conditions may differ. The state must be accurately described when declaring. Which code should Atlantic salmon fillets be classified under? Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon fillets are classified under 030441, and frozen under 030481. Fillets are cut products; even if fresh or chilled, they are not classified under 0302. Is it necessary to provide the Latin scientific name when declaring? Yes. According to customs regulations, the Latin scientific name must be provided when declaring aquatic products to ensure accurate species classification. The Latin scientific name of Atlantic salmon is Salmo salar. If Atlantic salmon is salted but not smoked, where should it be classified? Salted Atlantic salmon is classified under 0305, with the specific subheading depending on whether it is smoked. Salting is processing and is no longer classified under 0302. How to check the tariff rate for Atlantic salmon? It can be checked through the General Administration of Customs website or the Import and Export Tariff by entering HS code 030213 to view the MFN rate, agreement rate, etc. Tariff rates may change, so the latest published version should prevail. What regulatory documents are required for importing Atlantic salmon? Usually an official quarantine certificate from the exporting country, certificate of origin, import animal and plant quarantine permit, etc. are required. The latest announcement from the General Administration of Customs shall prevail. What is the code difference between Atlantic salmon and king salmon (chinook salmon)? King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) belongs to Pacific salmon, and fresh or chilled is classified under 030219, while Atlantic salmon is classified under 030213. The species differ, so the codes differ.
Q: How to distinguish Atlantic salmon from rainbow trout?
A: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) look similar, but can be distinguished by Latin scientific name. Atlantic salmon is usually marine, larger in size, with a narrower tail; rainbow trout is mostly freshwater farmed, smaller in size, with rainbow-colored stripes on the sides. When declaring, the Latin scientific name must be provided.
Q: What is the difference in HS codes between fresh Atlantic salmon and frozen Atlantic salmon?
A: Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon is classified under 030213, and frozen under 030313. The processing states differ, and tariff rates and regulatory conditions may differ. The state must be accurately described when declaring.
Q: Which code should Atlantic salmon fillets be classified under?
A: Fresh or chilled Atlantic salmon fillets are classified under 030441, and frozen under 030481. Fillets are cut products; even if fresh or chilled, they are not classified under 0302.
Q: Is it necessary to provide the Latin scientific name when declaring?
A: Yes. According to customs regulations, the Latin scientific name must be provided when declaring aquatic products to ensure accurate species classification. The Latin scientific name of Atlantic salmon is Salmo salar.
Q: If Atlantic salmon is salted but not smoked, where should it be classified?
A: Salted Atlantic salmon is classified under 0305, with the specific subheading depending on whether it is smoked. Salting is processing and is no longer classified under 0302.
Q: How to check the tariff rate for Atlantic salmon?
A: It can be checked through the General Administration of Customs website or the Import and Export Tariff by entering HS code 030213 to view the MFN rate, agreement rate, etc. Tariff rates may change, so the latest published version should prevail.
Q: What regulatory documents are required for importing Atlantic salmon?
A: Usually an official quarantine certificate from the exporting country, certificate of origin, import animal and plant quarantine permit, etc. are required. The latest announcement from the General Administration of Customs shall prevail.
Q: What is the code difference between Atlantic salmon and king salmon (chinook salmon)?
A: King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) belongs to Pacific salmon, and fresh or chilled is classified under 030219, while Atlantic salmon is classified under 030213. The species differ, so the codes differ.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.