Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, in brine, smoked and other processed products. This chapter is a core chapter in international trade of aquatic products, involving the entire chain of fishing, aquaculture and processing. Within the chapter, it is subdivided by species and processing state. Bluefin tuna, as a high-value economic fish species, its fresh or chilled products are classified under this chapter. Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (classified under 0304), fish livers and roes (classified under 0305 or 0306). This heading is subdivided by fish species. Bluefin tuna belongs to the family Scombridae and is an important species in international fishery trade. Fresh or chilled state means not frozen, preserved only with ice or refrigeration, maintaining the original freshness of the fish meat. Code 030235 has 6 digits: first 2 digits 03 = Chapter 3 (fish and aquatic invertebrates); digits 3-4 02 = heading 0302 (fresh or chilled fish, excluding fillets etc.); digits 5-6 35 = subheading 030235, specifically referring to fresh or chilled bluefin tuna. The 5th digit 3 represents the genus Thunnus, and the 6th digit 5 further limits to the species bluefin tuna. This code is listed independently in HS2022, reflecting its trade importance. The commodity is fresh or chilled bluefin tuna, not frozen, not sliced, not salted, conforming to the description of heading 0302. It is not classified under 0303 (frozen fish) because it is not frozen; not under 0304 (fish fillets) because it remains whole or gutted but not sliced; not under 0305 (salted) because it is not processed. The species bluefin tuna has an independent subheading under 0302, distinct from other tunas.
Chapter
Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, in brine, smoked and other processed products. This chapter is a core chapter in international trade of aquatic products, involving the entire chain of fishing, aquaculture and processing. Within the chapter, it is subdivided by species and processing state. Bluefin tuna, as a high-value economic fish species, its fresh or chilled products are classified under this chapter.
Heading
Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (classified under 0304), fish livers and roes (classified under 0305 or 0306). This heading is subdivided by fish species. Bluefin tuna belongs to the family Scombridae and is an important species in international fishery trade. Fresh or chilled state means not frozen, preserved only with ice or refrigeration, maintaining the original freshness of the fish meat.
Digit Breakdown
Code 030235 has 6 digits: first 2 digits 03 = Chapter 3 (fish and aquatic invertebrates); digits 3-4 02 = heading 0302 (fresh or chilled fish, excluding fillets etc.); digits 5-6 35 = subheading 030235, specifically referring to fresh or chilled bluefin tuna. The 5th digit 3 represents the genus Thunnus, and the 6th digit 5 further limits to the species bluefin tuna. This code is listed independently in HS2022, reflecting its trade importance.
Classification Basis
The commodity is fresh or chilled bluefin tuna, not frozen, not sliced, not salted, conforming to the description of heading 0302. It is not classified under 0303 (frozen fish) because it is not frozen; not under 0304 (fish fillets) because it remains whole or gutted but not sliced; not under 0305 (salted) because it is not processed. The species bluefin tuna has an independent subheading under 0302, distinct from other tunas.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: Declared commodity name should be specific to 'fresh bluefin tuna' or 'chilled bluefin tuna', avoiding generic 'tuna'. Latin scientific name: Fill in the Latin scientific name of bluefin tuna, such as Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic bluefin), Thunnus orientalis (Pacific bluefin), etc. State: Indicate 'fresh' or 'chilled', and whether gutted, headed, etc. Specification: Fill in weight per fish, body length, etc., such as '10-20kg/piece', for statistics and document review. Origin: Country/region of capture or aquaculture, such as 'Japan', 'Mexico', etc. Fishing method: Indicate wild capture or aquaculture, and the fishing area. Brand: If there is a brand, fill in the brand name; if no brand, fill in 'none'. Packaging specification: Fill in packaging type and weight per package, such as 'foam box, 20kg/box'. Product name: Fresh bluefin tuna; Latin scientific name: Thunnus thynnus; State: Fresh, gutted, not headed; Specification: 15-25kg/piece; Origin: Japan; Fishing method: Wild capture, Pacific Ocean; Brand: None; Packaging specification: Foam box, 20kg/box. Mistakenly declaring chilled bluefin tuna as frozen, leading to incorrect classification under 0303. Failure to provide Latin scientific name, unable to confirm specific species, may be classified under other tuna subheadings. Ignoring fishing method, tax rates and regulatory conditions may differ between wild and farmed.
Product name
Declared commodity name should be specific to 'fresh bluefin tuna' or 'chilled bluefin tuna', avoiding generic 'tuna'.
⚠️ Mistakenly written as 'frozen bluefin tuna' or 'bluefin tuna fillet'
Latin scientific name
Fill in the Latin scientific name of bluefin tuna, such as Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic bluefin), Thunnus orientalis (Pacific bluefin), etc.
⚠️ Misspelled scientific name or inconsistent with the species
State
Indicate 'fresh' or 'chilled', and whether gutted, headed, etc.
⚠️ Failure to indicate processing state, leading to classification disputes
Specification
Fill in weight per fish, body length, etc., such as '10-20kg/piece', for statistics and document review.
⚠️ Specification is vague or inconsistent with the actual goods
Origin
Country/region of capture or aquaculture, such as 'Japan', 'Mexico', etc.
⚠️ Origin inconsistent with fishing license
Fishing method
Indicate wild capture or aquaculture, and the fishing area.
⚠️ Failure to distinguish wild from farmed, affecting tariffs and quotas
Brand
If there is a brand, fill in the brand name; if no brand, fill in 'none'.
⚠️ Brand inconsistent with actual packaging
Packaging specification
Fill in packaging type and weight per package, such as 'foam box, 20kg/box'.
Mistakenly declaring chilled bluefin tuna as frozen, leading to incorrect classification under 0303.
Failure to provide Latin scientific name, unable to confirm specific species, may be classified under other tuna subheadings.
Ignoring fishing method, tax rates and regulatory conditions may differ between wild and farmed.
🎯 Classification Logic
Core basis for classification: 1) Commodity state is fresh or chilled, not frozen, not sliced, not salted; 2) Species is bluefin tuna (genus Thunnus), Latin scientific name required; 3) Whole fish or gutted but not further processed. If frozen, classify under 0303; if filleted, under 0304; if salted, under 0305. Bluefin tuna has an independent subheading under 0302, distinct from other tunas (e.g., 030234 for albacore). 030234 Fresh or chilled albacore: Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a different species from bluefin tuna, different subheading. Bluefin tuna is larger and more valuable, need to distinguish by scientific name. 030236 Fresh or chilled southern bluefin tuna: Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is an independent subheading, different from Atlantic and Pacific bluefin under 030235, need to confirm specific species. 030239 Fresh or chilled other tunas: Other tunas such as yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna etc. are classified here, bluefin tuna is not. 030311 Frozen sockeye salmon: Frozen state is classified under 0303, fresh or chilled under 0302. Sockeye salmon and bluefin tuna are different species. 030441 Fresh or chilled bluefin tuna fillets: Fillets are classified under 0304, whole fish or gutted but not sliced under 0302. Slicing or not is the key difference. Confirm commodity state is fresh or chilled, not frozen. Confirm Latin scientific name is bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus etc.). Confirm not sliced, not salted, not smoked. Confirm declaration elements are complete, especially scientific name and state. Check origin and fishing method to ensure compliance with regulatory conditions.
Basis
Core basis for classification: 1) Commodity state is fresh or chilled, not frozen, not sliced, not salted; 2) Species is bluefin tuna (genus Thunnus), Latin scientific name required; 3) Whole fish or gutted but not further processed. If frozen, classify under 0303; if filleted, under 0304; if salted, under 0305. Bluefin tuna has an independent subheading under 0302, distinct from other tunas (e.g., 030234 for albacore).
Confused Codes：
030234 - Fresh or chilled albacore
Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) is a different species from bluefin tuna, different subheading. Bluefin tuna is larger and more valuable, need to distinguish by scientific name.
030236 - Fresh or chilled southern bluefin tuna
Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is an independent subheading, different from Atlantic and Pacific bluefin under 030235, need to confirm specific species.
030239 - Fresh or chilled other tunas
Other tunas such as yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna etc. are classified here, bluefin tuna is not.
030311 - Frozen sockeye salmon
Frozen state is classified under 0303, fresh or chilled under 0302. Sockeye salmon and bluefin tuna are different species.
030441 - Fresh or chilled bluefin tuna fillets
Fillets are classified under 0304, whole fish or gutted but not sliced under 0302. Slicing or not is the key difference.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm commodity state is fresh or chilled, not frozen.
✓ Confirm Latin scientific name is bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus etc.).
✓ Confirm not sliced, not salted, not smoked.
✓ Confirm declaration elements are complete, especially scientific name and state.
✓ Check origin and fishing method to ensure compliance with regulatory conditions.
❓ FAQ
How to query the HS code for bluefin tuna? First determine the commodity state: fresh or chilled, frozen, sliced, etc. Fresh or chilled whole bluefin tuna is classified under 030235. Then confirm the specific species, Atlantic and Pacific bluefin are both under this code, southern bluefin under 030236. It is recommended to use the Customs Tariff or HS database for query. What is the difference in codes between bluefin tuna and southern bluefin tuna? Bluefin tuna (Atlantic and Pacific bluefin) is classified under 030235, while southern bluefin tuna under 030236. They are different species, trade statistics and regulatory requirements may differ. Latin scientific name is required for declaration to distinguish. Are the codes for fresh bluefin tuna and frozen bluefin tuna the same? No. Fresh or chilled bluefin tuna is classified under 030235, frozen under 0303 (specific subheading such as 030345). State is the primary basis for classification, freezing changes the code. Which code should bluefin tuna fillets be classified under? Fillets are classified under 0304, fresh or chilled bluefin tuna fillets under 030441. If whole fish gutted but not sliced, still under 030235. Slicing is the key to distinguish between 0302 and 0304. What special documents are required for declaring bluefin tuna? Usually fishing license, certificate of origin, health certificate, etc. Bluefin tuna is regulated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), may require ICCAT statistical document. For specific document requirements, consult local customs. How to query the tax rate for bluefin tuna code? Tax rates may change, it is recommended to check the latest rates through the General Administration of Customs website or China International Trade Single Window. Enter HS code 030235 to view import tariffs, VAT, etc. Note that free trade agreement rates may differ. What are the consequences of mistakenly classifying bluefin tuna under other tuna codes? May lead to customs document review failure, tax supplement, fines or even suspected smuggling. Different subheadings have different tax rates and regulatory conditions, truthful declaration is an obligation. It is recommended to use professional customs brokerage services or consult customs. Are the codes for farmed bluefin tuna and wild bluefin tuna the same? The HS code is the same, both under 030235, but declaration must indicate farmed or wild. Some countries may have quotas or bans on wild capture, affecting imports. Regulatory conditions may differ, need to pay attention.
Q: How to query the HS code for bluefin tuna?
A: First determine the commodity state: fresh or chilled, frozen, sliced, etc. Fresh or chilled whole bluefin tuna is classified under 030235. Then confirm the specific species, Atlantic and Pacific bluefin are both under this code, southern bluefin under 030236. It is recommended to use the Customs Tariff or HS database for query.
Q: What is the difference in codes between bluefin tuna and southern bluefin tuna?
A: Bluefin tuna (Atlantic and Pacific bluefin) is classified under 030235, while southern bluefin tuna under 030236. They are different species, trade statistics and regulatory requirements may differ. Latin scientific name is required for declaration to distinguish.
Q: Are the codes for fresh bluefin tuna and frozen bluefin tuna the same?
A: No. Fresh or chilled bluefin tuna is classified under 030235, frozen under 0303 (specific subheading such as 030345). State is the primary basis for classification, freezing changes the code.
Q: Which code should bluefin tuna fillets be classified under?
A: Fillets are classified under 0304, fresh or chilled bluefin tuna fillets under 030441. If whole fish gutted but not sliced, still under 030235. Slicing is the key to distinguish between 0302 and 0304.
Q: What special documents are required for declaring bluefin tuna?
A: Usually fishing license, certificate of origin, health certificate, etc. Bluefin tuna is regulated by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), may require ICCAT statistical document. For specific document requirements, consult local customs.
Q: How to query the tax rate for bluefin tuna code?
A: Tax rates may change, it is recommended to check the latest rates through the General Administration of Customs website or China International Trade Single Window. Enter HS code 030235 to view import tariffs, VAT, etc. Note that free trade agreement rates may differ.
Q: What are the consequences of mistakenly classifying bluefin tuna under other tuna codes?
A: May lead to customs document review failure, tax supplement, fines or even suspected smuggling. Different subheadings have different tax rates and regulatory conditions, truthful declaration is an obligation. It is recommended to use professional customs brokerage services or consult customs.
Q: Are the codes for farmed bluefin tuna and wild bluefin tuna the same?
A: The HS code is the same, both under 030235, but declaration must indicate farmed or wild. Some countries may have quotas or bans on wild capture, affecting imports. Regulatory conditions may differ, need to pay attention.
⚠️ 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.