Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, divided into different processing states such as fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, smoked, etc. This chapter includes live fish, fresh or chilled fish, frozen fish, fish fillets, fish meat, fish roe, crustaceans, molluscs, etc., but excludes cooked or preserved fish products (classified under Chapter 16). This chapter is a core chapter in aquatic product trade, involving multiple stages such as fishing, aquaculture, and processing. Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (classified under 0304). This heading includes whole fish, headless fish, gutted fish, etc., but must remain in fresh or chilled state. Fresh fish refers to fish that have just been caught or slaughtered without freezing treatment, and chilled fish refers to fish stored at around 0°C. Fish under this heading can be further subdivided by species, such as carp, trout, salmon, etc. The first 2 digits 03 represent Chapter 03 "Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates". The 3rd-4th digits 02 represent heading 0302 "Fresh or chilled fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304". The 5th-6th digits 73 represent subheading 030273 "Fresh or chilled carp". Among these, subheading 0302.7 is cyprinids, and 0302.73 specifically refers to carp (Cyprinus carpio). Therefore, 030273 completely represents fresh or chilled carp, regardless of whether its source is wild-caught or farmed. This commodity is fresh or chilled carp, which has not undergone freezing, drying, smoking or other processing, nor has it been cut into fillets or minced meat, therefore it is classified under 0302 rather than 0303 (frozen fish) or 0304 (fillets). At the same time, carp belongs to the cyprinid family, and under 0302 it is further classified under 030273, rather than other cyprinids such as 030271 (trout), etc.
Chapter
Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, divided into different processing states such as fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted, smoked, etc. This chapter includes live fish, fresh or chilled fish, frozen fish, fish fillets, fish meat, fish roe, crustaceans, molluscs, etc., but excludes cooked or preserved fish products (classified under Chapter 16). This chapter is a core chapter in aquatic product trade, involving multiple stages such as fishing, aquaculture, and processing.
Heading
Heading 0302 covers fresh or chilled fish, but excludes fish fillets and other fish meat (classified under 0304). This heading includes whole fish, headless fish, gutted fish, etc., but must remain in fresh or chilled state. Fresh fish refers to fish that have just been caught or slaughtered without freezing treatment, and chilled fish refers to fish stored at around 0°C. Fish under this heading can be further subdivided by species, such as carp, trout, salmon, etc.
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits 03 represent Chapter 03 "Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates". The 3rd-4th digits 02 represent heading 0302 "Fresh or chilled fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304". The 5th-6th digits 73 represent subheading 030273 "Fresh or chilled carp". Among these, subheading 0302.7 is cyprinids, and 0302.73 specifically refers to carp (Cyprinus carpio). Therefore, 030273 completely represents fresh or chilled carp, regardless of whether its source is wild-caught or farmed.
Classification Basis
This commodity is fresh or chilled carp, which has not undergone freezing, drying, smoking or other processing, nor has it been cut into fillets or minced meat, therefore it is classified under 0302 rather than 0303 (frozen fish) or 0304 (fillets). At the same time, carp belongs to the cyprinid family, and under 0302 it is further classified under 030273, rather than other cyprinids such as 030271 (trout), etc.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: Fill in the specific commodity name, such as "fresh carp" or "chilled carp", avoiding the generic term "fresh fish". State: Indicate "fresh" or "chilled", and specify the storage temperature conditions, such as "ice-chilled" or "0°C chilled". Latin scientific name: Provide the accurate Latin scientific name; carp is Cyprinus carpio, ensuring correspondence with the HS code. Whether headless and gutted: Explain the processing method of the fish, such as "whole", "headless and gutted", etc., which affects classification. Individual weight: Declare the weight range of each fish, such as "500-800g/piece", for statistics and document review. Packaging method: Explain the packaging materials and specifications, such as "foam box with ice, 10kg/box". Fishing or farming method: Indicate "wild-caught" or "farmed"; some countries have quota or certificate requirements. Country of origin: Fill in the country of origin of the fish, such as "China", used to determine tariffs and trade agreements. Product name: Fresh carp; State: Ice-chilled; Latin scientific name: Cyprinus carpio; Processing method: Whole, not headless or gutted; Individual weight: 600-800g/piece; Packaging: Foam box with ice, 20kg/box; Source: Farmed; Country of origin: China. Mistaking chilled carp as frozen, leading to classification under 0303 instead of 0302. Failing to provide the Latin scientific name, which may raise doubts about classification accuracy. Confusing carp with similar species, such as crucian carp, leading to coding errors.
Product name
Fill in the specific commodity name, such as "fresh carp" or "chilled carp", avoiding the generic term "fresh fish".
⚠️ Only filling in "fish" or "fresh fish" without specifying carp.
State
Indicate "fresh" or "chilled", and specify the storage temperature conditions, such as "ice-chilled" or "0°C chilled".
⚠️ Mistaking frozen fish as chilled, or failing to indicate the state.
Latin scientific name
Provide the accurate Latin scientific name; carp is Cyprinus carpio, ensuring correspondence with the HS code.
⚠️ Using common names or incorrect scientific names, leading to classification disputes.
Whether headless and gutted
Explain the processing method of the fish, such as "whole", "headless and gutted", etc., which affects classification.
⚠️ Failing to specify the processing method, which may lead to misclassification under 0304.
Individual weight
Declare the weight range of each fish, such as "500-800g/piece", for statistics and document review.
⚠️ Failing to provide weight information, or providing too wide a range.
Packaging method
Explain the packaging materials and specifications, such as "foam box with ice, 10kg/box".
Indicate "wild-caught" or "farmed"; some countries have quota or certificate requirements.
⚠️ Failing to distinguish between wild and farmed, leading to license issues.
Country of origin
Fill in the country of origin of the fish, such as "China", used to determine tariffs and trade agreements.
⚠️ Filling in the transit country instead of the country of origin.
Example： Product name: Fresh carp; State: Ice-chilled; Latin scientific name: Cyprinus carpio; Processing method: Whole, not headless or gutted; Individual weight: 600-800g/piece; Packaging: Foam box with ice, 20kg/box; Source: Farmed; Country of origin: China.
Common Mistakes：
Mistaking chilled carp as frozen, leading to classification under 0303 instead of 0302.
Failing to provide the Latin scientific name, which may raise doubts about classification accuracy.
Confusing carp with similar species, such as crucian carp, leading to coding errors.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the biological classification of the commodity (carp), preservation state (fresh or chilled), and degree of processing (not sliced, not frozen). According to the General Rules for HS Classification, the chapter should first be determined, then the heading and subheading. Carp belongs to the cyprinid family, and under 0302 it is further subdivided by species. At the same time, attention should be paid to excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304, as well as dried, smoked, salted fish of 0305. 030271 Fresh or chilled trout: Trout belongs to the salmonid family, while carp belongs to the cyprinid family; their biological classifications differ, so the codes differ. 030279 Other fresh or chilled cyprinids: This subheading covers other cyprinids besides specific species such as carp and trout, such as crucian carp. 030323 Frozen carp: Frozen carp is classified under 0303, while fresh or chilled carp is classified under 0302; the preservation state is key. 030439 Fresh or chilled cyprinid fillets: Fillets are classified under 0304, while whole or gutted fish are classified under 0302; the degree of processing differs. Confirm the fish species is carp (Cyprinus carpio). Confirm the preservation state is fresh or chilled, not frozen. Confirm it has not been cut into fillets or minced meat. Confirm the Latin scientific name is accurate. Confirm the country of origin and source method are declared correctly.
Basis
The core basis for classification is the biological classification of the commodity (carp), preservation state (fresh or chilled), and degree of processing (not sliced, not frozen). According to the General Rules for HS Classification, the chapter should first be determined, then the heading and subheading. Carp belongs to the cyprinid family, and under 0302 it is further subdivided by species. At the same time, attention should be paid to excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of 0304, as well as dried, smoked, salted fish of 0305.
Confused Codes：
030271 - Fresh or chilled trout
Trout belongs to the salmonid family, while carp belongs to the cyprinid family; their biological classifications differ, so the codes differ.
030279 - Other fresh or chilled cyprinids
This subheading covers other cyprinids besides specific species such as carp and trout, such as crucian carp.
030323 - Frozen carp
Frozen carp is classified under 0303, while fresh or chilled carp is classified under 0302; the preservation state is key.
030439 - Fresh or chilled cyprinid fillets
Fillets are classified under 0304, while whole or gutted fish are classified under 0302; the degree of processing differs.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm the fish species is carp (Cyprinus carpio).
✓ Confirm the preservation state is fresh or chilled, not frozen.
✓ Confirm it has not been cut into fillets or minced meat.
✓ Confirm the Latin scientific name is accurate.
✓ Confirm the country of origin and source method are declared correctly.
❓ FAQ
How to inquire about the tariff rate for HS code 030273? It can be queried through national customs official websites or the WTO tariff database. Enter code 030273 and the country of origin, and the system will display MFN rates, agreement rates, etc. Rates may change; it is recommended to use the latest official data. What is the difference between fresh carp and chilled carp when declaring? Both are classified under 030273, but the state must be indicated when declaring: fresh fish refers to fish without chilling treatment, and chilled fish refers to fish stored at around 0°C. The state affects inspection and quarantine requirements, but the HS code is the same. If the carp is headless and gutted, is it still classified under 030273? Yes, as long as it has not been cut into fillets or minced meat, headless and gutted fresh or chilled carp is still classified under 030273. However, if cut into fillets, it is classified under 0304. Is there any difference in classification between farmed carp and wild carp? HS code classification does not distinguish between wild or farmed; both are classified under 030273. However, some countries may have additional certificate requirements for wild-caught fish, and the source must be indicated when declaring. What are the consequences of mistakenly declaring frozen carp as 030273? It may lead to classification errors, affecting tariff collection and trade statistics, and may even result in customs penalties. Frozen carp should be classified under 030323; the state must be carefully verified when declaring. How to confirm the Latin scientific name of carp? Reference can be made to authoritative fish databases such as FishBase; the scientific name of carp is Cyprinus carpio. Providing the accurate scientific name when declaring helps expedite customs clearance. Does 030273 apply to carp fry? No. Carp fry are usually classified under 0301 (live fish), while 030273 applies to fresh or chilled adult fish. Fry must be classified under the corresponding code based on live fish state. What quarantine certificates are required for importing fresh carp? Usually, official quarantine certificates, health certificates, etc. from the country of origin are required, depending on the importing country's requirements. It is recommended to consult customs or inspection and quarantine authorities in advance.
Q: How to inquire about the tariff rate for HS code 030273?
A: It can be queried through national customs official websites or the WTO tariff database. Enter code 030273 and the country of origin, and the system will display MFN rates, agreement rates, etc. Rates may change; it is recommended to use the latest official data.
Q: What is the difference between fresh carp and chilled carp when declaring?
A: Both are classified under 030273, but the state must be indicated when declaring: fresh fish refers to fish without chilling treatment, and chilled fish refers to fish stored at around 0°C. The state affects inspection and quarantine requirements, but the HS code is the same.
Q: If the carp is headless and gutted, is it still classified under 030273?
A: Yes, as long as it has not been cut into fillets or minced meat, headless and gutted fresh or chilled carp is still classified under 030273. However, if cut into fillets, it is classified under 0304.
Q: Is there any difference in classification between farmed carp and wild carp?
A: HS code classification does not distinguish between wild or farmed; both are classified under 030273. However, some countries may have additional certificate requirements for wild-caught fish, and the source must be indicated when declaring.
Q: What are the consequences of mistakenly declaring frozen carp as 030273?
A: It may lead to classification errors, affecting tariff collection and trade statistics, and may even result in customs penalties. Frozen carp should be classified under 030323; the state must be carefully verified when declaring.
Q: How to confirm the Latin scientific name of carp?
A: Reference can be made to authoritative fish databases such as FishBase; the scientific name of carp is Cyprinus carpio. Providing the accurate scientific name when declaring helps expedite customs clearance.
Q: Does 030273 apply to carp fry?
A: No. Carp fry are usually classified under 0301 (live fish), while 030273 applies to fresh or chilled adult fish. Fry must be classified under the corresponding code based on live fish state.
Q: What quarantine certificates are required for importing fresh carp?
A: Usually, official quarantine certificates, health certificates, etc. from the country of origin are required, depending on the importing country's requirements. It is recommended to consult customs or inspection and quarantine authorities in advance.
⚠️ 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.