HS Code 0301Fish; live

What HS code 0301 covers

Customs offices write this heading as "Fish; live". In everyday words, it means fish that are still alive when they cross the border. The fish may be bound for a home aquarium, a fish farm, a pond or a live-fish market.

The rule is simple. If the fish is alive, look here first. If it has been chilled, frozen, cut, dried or smoked, it belongs in another heading. The World Customs Organization sets these codes, so the first six digits are the same in every country. Each country can add its own extra digits after that. You may see the same product called an HSN code or an HTS code, depending on the country, but the first six digits match.

It is one of the headings of Chapter 03, which also covers crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates.

HS heading 0301 subcategories: ornamental and food fish

The heading splits into two groups. The first group is ornamental fish, kept for show or as pets. The second group is live fish sold mainly as food or for farming, listed by species.

• 030111: ornamental fish, freshwater.
• 030119: ornamental fish, other than freshwater. Use it for sea-water ornamental fish.
• 030191: live trout, including rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta).
• 030193: live carp, including common carp, grass carp, silver and bighead carp, and catla.
• 030199: all other live fish not named in the codes above.

How to choose the right code for live fish

Start with the purpose. If the fish is sold as a pet or for display, pick one of the two ornamental codes. Use 030111 for freshwater fish and 030119 for all other ornamental fish.

If the fish is not ornamental, check the species. Trout, eels, carp, Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tuna and southern bluefin tuna each have a code of their own. Match the Latin name on your papers to the list in the code description.

Use 030199 only as a last step. Its description says "n.e.c.", which means "not elsewhere classified". A live fish goes here only when no other code in the heading names it. If you are unsure, try the HS code classifier before you file.

HS 0301 vs nearby fish headings

Most mistakes happen between neighbouring headings. The state of the fish decides the heading. Here is a quick guide.

• 0301: fish that are alive.
• 0306: crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs, in many forms.
• 0307: molluscs such as oysters and squid.
• 0308: other aquatic invertebrates.
• 0309: flours, meals and pellets of fish and other water animals, fit for human consumption.

HS code 0301 importers and exporters

Knowing the code is only the first step. The next question is who trades under it. Buyers of live fish include aquarium traders, fish farms and wholesalers. Suppliers include hatcheries, breeders and exporters.

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

Use the import data and export data pages to see how the records work. Use the buyer data and supplier data pages to find companies that move live fish.