Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, including live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, smoked and other preservation methods. This chapter is the core chapter for international trade in aquatic products, involving the entire chain of fishing, aquaculture and processing. Customs authorities of various countries implement strict inspection, quarantine and species compliance management for goods under this chapter, with particular attention to endangered species (such as sturgeon and eel) and food hygiene and safety. Heading 0302 specifically covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (the latter falls under 0304). Fish under this heading must remain whole or have undergone only simple processing such as heading and gutting, and must not have been frozen, dried, smoked or salted. Fresh fish generally refers to fish just caught without preservation treatment, while chilled fish refers to fish stored at around 0°C to maintain freshness. This heading is the primary classification entry point for trade in fresh aquatic products. Code 030263 is a six-digit subheading: the first 2 digits "03" represent Chapter 3 (Fish and other aquatic invertebrates); digits 3-4 "02" represent heading 0302 (Fresh or chilled fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304); digits 5-6 "63" represent subheading 030263, specifically saithe (Pollachius virens). Saithe is an important commercial fish species of the cod family, widely distributed in the North Atlantic. Its fresh or chilled state is classified under this code; if frozen, it falls under 0303; if filleted, it falls under 0304. This product is fresh or chilled saithe, not frozen, dried, smoked or salted, and not processed into fillets or other fish meat, thus meeting the description of heading 0302. Under 0302, it is further subdivided by species, with saithe separately listed under 030263, while other cod (such as Atlantic cod and Pacific cod) fall under 030262 or 030264, etc. Therefore, correct species identification is the key to classification under this code.

Product Name: The specific name of the declared product, using standardized Chinese and Latin scientific names, such as "Fresh Saithe" or "Chilled Saithe", avoiding colloquial or vague terms. Latin Scientific Name: Fill in the Latin scientific name of the species; saithe is Pollachius virens. This is an important basis for customs and quarantine authorities to determine the species. State: Clearly declare as "fresh" or "chilled"; fresh means without chilling treatment, chilled means stored at around 0°C. Both are classified under 0302. Processing Method: Describe whether headed, gutted, finned or other simple processing has been done. If only simply processed, still classified under 0302; if made into fillets, classified under 0304. Specification: Declare the weight or length specification of each fish, such as "200-300g/piece", for customs statistics and price assessment. Origin: Fill in the country/region of capture or aquaculture, such as "Norway", "Iceland", etc., which affects tariff and trade agreement applicability. Brand: If there is a brand, declare the brand name; if no brand, fill in "None". Packaging Method: Indicate the packaging type, such as "boxed", "bulk", and whether ice is included. Product Name: Fresh Saithe; Latin Scientific Name: Pollachius virens; State: Fresh; Processing Method: Headed and gutted, not deboned; Specification: 300-500g/piece; Origin: Norway; Brand: None; Packaging Method: Boxed, 20kg per box, iced for freshness. Mistakenly classifying chilled saithe under 0302, but if actually frozen, it should be classified under 0303; the state must be verified. Confusing saithe with other cod, such as Atlantic cod (030262), leading to subheading errors. Failing to provide the Latin scientific name during declaration, using only Chinese colloquial names, which may raise customs doubts.

Core classification basis: 1) The product must belong to aquatic animals of Chapter 3; 2) It must be in fresh or chilled state, not frozen, dried, smoked or salted; 3) It must be a whole fish or only simply processed, not made into fillets or other fish meat; 4) The species must be saithe (Pollachius virens). Reference should also be made to the Import and Export Tariff and relevant classification decisions of the General Administration of Customs to ensure accurate species identification. 030262 Fresh or chilled Atlantic cod: Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe are in the same family but different genera; they look similar but are different species and must be distinguished by Latin scientific name. 030264 Fresh or chilled Alaska pollock: Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is mainly distributed in the North Pacific, different from saithe's distribution area, and has a different Latin scientific name. 030269 Other fresh or chilled cod: This is a residual subheading; if it cannot be classified under specific species such as 030262-030264, it falls under this code. However, saithe has a specific listing and should not be classified here. 0303 Frozen fish: If saithe has been frozen, it is classified under 0303, not 0302; the state is the core difference. 0304 Fresh or chilled fish fillets and other fish meat: If saithe has been processed into fillets or minced meat, it is classified under 0304, not 0302; the degree of processing is the key. Confirm the product state is fresh or chilled, not frozen. Verify the Latin scientific name is Pollachius virens. Check whether only simple processing such as heading and gutting has been done. Confirm it has not been processed into fillets, steaks or other fish meat. Verify the origin and whether it meets trade agreement requirements.

How to check the tariff rate for HS code 030263? You can check through the "Import and Export Tariff" on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, or use the "Customs Classification Pre-ruling" service. Tariff rates vary by country, trade agreement (such as RCEP) and annual adjustments. It is recommended to refer to the latest tariff or consult a professional customs broker. What is the classification difference between saithe and Alaska pollock? Saithe (Pollachius virens) is classified under 030263, and Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is classified under 030264. They are different species with different distribution areas, and the Latin scientific name must be provided for classification. If saithe is headed and gutted but not chilled, how is it classified? If only headed and gutted without chilling or freezing, it is still fresh fish and classified under 0302. However, if ice is used for freshness during transport, it is usually considered chilled and also classified under 0302. If frozen, it is classified under 0303. What quarantine documents are required for importing saithe? A quarantine certificate issued by the official authority of the exporting country, a certificate of origin, and an import animal and plant quarantine permit are required. Specific requirements can be found in the General Administration of Customs' "Administrative Measures for Inspection and Quarantine Supervision of Imported Aquatic Products". Which code should saithe fillets be classified under? Fresh or chilled saithe fillets should be classified under 0304.4 (fresh or chilled fish fillets); the specific subheading depends on the state of the fillets. If frozen, they are classified under 0304.8. What are the consequences of writing the Latin scientific name incorrectly during declaration? It may lead to classification errors, affecting tariff applicability and regulatory conditions, and may even be deemed by customs as false declaration, resulting in administrative penalties. Always ensure the scientific name is accurate. How to determine whether saithe is "fresh" or "chilled"? Fresh means without any preservation treatment; chilled means stored at around 0°C but not frozen. If the fish temperature is below 0°C but not frozen, it is usually considered chilled. If frozen, it is considered frozen. What is the difference between 030263 and 030269? 030263 specifically refers to saithe; 030269 is other fresh or chilled cod (residual subheading). If the species is saithe, it must be classified under 030263 and cannot be classified under 030269.