Chapter 03 HS Codes: Fish and Crustaceans
CHAPTER DEFINITION & SCOPE
HS Chapter 03 of the WCO Harmonized System covers fish and crustaceans. It groups 9 4-digit WCO headings and 225 6-digit subheadings under the official 2026 customs nomenclature [USITC HTS 2026].
Chapter
Ch 03
Headings
9 Headings
Subheadings
225 HS6
US Tariff Status
Active 2026
Chapter 03 4-Digit Headings Directory
| Heading | WCO Heading Description | Subheading Count | Directory Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heading 0301 | Live fish | 8 subheadings | Browse Heading 0301 → |
| Heading 0302 | Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304 | 45 subheadings | Browse Heading 0302 → |
| Heading 0303 | Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304 | 44 subheadings | Browse Heading 0303 → |
| Heading 0304 | Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen | 48 subheadings | Browse Heading 0304 → |
| Heading 0305 | Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process | 22 subheadings | Browse Heading 0305 → |
| Heading 0306 | Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine; smoked crustaceans, whether in shell or not, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; crustaceans, in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling in water, whether or not chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine | 20 subheadings | Browse Heading 0306 → |
| Heading 0307 | 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 process | 28 subheadings | Browse Heading 0307 → |
| Heading 0308 | 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 process | 8 subheadings | Browse Heading 0308 → |
| Heading 0309 | Flours, meals and pellets of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, fit for human consumption | 2 subheadings | Browse Heading 0309 → |
Chapter 03 Subheading Sample & MFN Duty Rates
| HS Code | Subheading Description | Heading | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0301.11 | Ornamental fish, Freshwater | 0301 | View 0301.11 → |
| 0301.19 | Ornamental fish, Other | 0301 | View 0301.19 → |
| 0301.91 | Other live fish, Trout (Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Oncorhynchus clarki, Oncorhynchus aguabonita, Oncorhynchus gilae, Oncorhynchus apache and Oncorhynchus chrysogaster) | 0301 | View 0301.91 → |
| 0301.92 | Other live fish, Eels (Anguilla spp.) | 0301 | View 0301.92 → |
| 0301.93 | Other live fish, Carp (Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus, Catla catla, Labeo spp., Osteochilus hasselti, Leptobarbus hoeveni, Megalobrama spp.) | 0301 | View 0301.93 → |
| 0301.94 | Other live fish, Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas (Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus orientalis) | 0301 | View 0301.94 → |
| 0301.95 | Other live fish, Southern Bluefin tunas (Thunnus maccoyii) | 0301 | View 0301.95 → |
| 0301.99 | Other live fish, Other | 0301 | View 0301.99 → |
| 0302.11 | Salmonidae, excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Trout (Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Oncorhynchus clarki, Oncorhynchus aguabonita, Oncorhynchus gilae, Oncorhynchus apache and Oncorhynchus chrysogaster) | 0302 | View 0302.11 → |
| 0302.13 | Salmonidae, excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Oncorhynchus keta, Oncorhynchus tschawytscha, Oncorhynchus kisutch, Oncorhynchus masou and Oncorhynchus rhodurus) | 0302 | View 0302.13 → |
| 0302.14 | Salmonidae, excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) | 0302 | View 0302.14 → |
| 0302.19 | Salmonidae, excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Other | 0302 | View 0302.19 → |
| 0302.21 | Flat fish (Pleuronectidae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae and Citharidae), excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Halibut and Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, Hippoglossus stenolepis) | 0302 | View 0302.21 → |
| 0302.22 | Flat fish (Pleuronectidae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae and Citharidae), excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) | 0302 | View 0302.22 → |
| 0302.23 | Flat fish (Pleuronectidae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae and Citharidae), excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, Sole (Solea spp.) | 0302 | View 0302.23 → |
EXPERT CLASSIFICATION PRO TIPS
Common Pitfalls When Classifying Chapter 03 Goods
- Always review WCO Section and Chapter Legal Notes before assigning 4-digit headings.
- Distinguish carefully between unprocessed raw materials and further prepared or processed articles.
- Verify Partner Government Agency (PGA) flags for agriculture, food, or chemical items.
- Cross-reference official CBP CROSS rulings for binding precedents on mixed or composite goods.
Official Primary Sources & Authority References
USITC HTS Chapter 03 Tariff ↗
United States International Trade Commission official Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
CBP CROSS Rulings ↗
Customs Rulings Online Search System for Chapter 03 binding classification precedents.
WCO HS Nomenclature ↗
World Customs Organization international 6-digit Harmonized System backbone standard.
U.S. Census Foreign Trade ↗
U.S. Census Bureau trade statistics and Schedule B concordance portal.
Chapter 03 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What commodities are covered under HS Chapter 03?
Chapter 03 (Fish and Crustaceans) covers WCO Harmonized System 4-digit headings from 0301 upward, encompassing primary goods, raw materials, and manufactured articles within this nomenclature section.
How many 4-digit headings exist in HS Chapter 03?
Chapter 03 contains 9 official 4-digit WCO headings and 225 6-digit tariff subheadings.
What is the US general import duty range for Chapter 03 commodities?
Base customs duties under Chapter 03 range from 0.0% (Duty-Free) up to representative MFN rate limits depending on 10-digit HTS statistical suffix extensions.
Do Section 301 China tariffs apply to Chapter 03 imports?
Section 301 tariffs depend on specific 8-digit HTS subheadings. Importers must verify if their exact HTS code appears on USTR Lists 1 through 4A.
Are Partner Government Agency (PGA) permits required for Chapter 03?
PGA message-set flags (such as FDA, USDA APHIS, EPA, or CITES) apply conditionally depending on the commodity classification within Chapter 03.
How are products classified between adjacent headings in Chapter 03?
Classification follows WCO General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 through 6, prioritizing specific heading terms over general descriptions.
Can Chapter 03 goods enter duty-free under USMCA or Free Trade Agreements?
Yes. Eligible goods originating in USMCA member states (US, Mexico, Canada) or FTA partners enter duty-free under SPI code P, KR, AU, or CL with a valid Certificate of Origin.
What is the Section 321 de minimis limit for Chapter 03 shipments?
Eligible commercial shipments valued at $800 USD or less imported by one person on one day may enter duty-free under 19 U.S.C. 1321.
What documents are required for formal entry of Chapter 03 goods?
Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading/Air Waybill, and entry summary CBP Form 7501 are mandatory for entries exceeding $2,500 USD.
How can an importer obtain a binding CBP ruling for Chapter 03?
Importers may submit an e-Ruling application under 19 CFR Part 177 to CBP National Commodity Specialist Division.