Seafood Import Restrictions Updated

By USA In USA Trade Alerts On 26th December 2023

UPDATED March 7, 2024

On December 26, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced new seafood import restrictions.

Following an Executive Order (EO) from President Biden, beginning on December 22, 2023, CBP will require importers to provide self-certification that fish, seafood, and seafood containing products imported into the U.S. do not contain any inputs originating from the Russian Federation. This includes any seafood products or components from the Russian Federation that are processed in a third country before they are imported into the United States.

Self-certification

Importers will be required to self-certify at the time of import and FTZ admissions, by providing a statement on official company letterhead in PDF format.

Statement

“I certify that any such products in this shipment were not harvested in waters under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation or by Russia-flagged vessels, notwithstanding whether such product has been incorporated or substantially transformed into another product outside of the Russian Federation.”

OFAC General License No. 83

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a determination which states products containing salmon, cod, pollock, and crab harvested in the Russian Federation or salmon, cod, pollock and crab harvested in the Russian Federation that has been substantially transformed into another product outside of the Russian Federation are within the scope of EO.

Additionally, OFAC has issued GENERAL LICENSE NO. 83: “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof Prohibited by Executive Order 14068,” prior to December 22, 2023, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. ET, February 21, 2024.

Goods imported under General License 83 will require an upload of purchase orders and/or executed contracts and/or any other documentation showing when the order and/or contract went into effect. List of HTSUS subheadings

OFAC General License No. 83A

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a replacement of General License No. 83, extending the deadline for seafood derivative products that were loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading prior to 12:01 a.m. EST on February 20, 2024, pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered into prior to December 22, 2023, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. EDT, May 31, 2024.

For more information, please refer to CSMS # 58813725

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