When importing Fish and Seafood products, it is important to state whether they are live, chilled or frozen, whole, filet, boned or deboned.
Tuna is especially sensitive as an original certificate may be required which must be submitted to CBP and then to NOAA. It is also highly recommended you confirm the product you intend to import is not subject to an embargo before purchasing.
Failure to comply with the requirements and deadlines of the import monitoring programs detailed below is a violation of federal law for which significant penalties, including forfeiture of imported product, may be assessed. All such violations are referred to the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement for appropriate action. If you believe you may have violated federal law, NMFS strongly recommends that you immediately self-report the violation to the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement.
As a reference, the common name and scientific name for tuna species are shown below:
Albacore - Thunnus alalunga
Bigeye - Thunnus obesus
Blackfin - Thunnus atlanticus
Bluefin, Atlantic - Thunnus thynnus
Bluefin, Pacific - Thunnus orientalis (also known as Thunnus thynnus orientalis)
Bluefin, Southern - Thunnus maccoyii
Longtail - Thunnus tonggol
Skipjack - Katsuwonus pelamis (also known as Euthynnus pelamis)
Yellowfin - Thunnus albacares
What type of tuna product are you importing? What tuna species are you importing?
Fresh
Frozen
In Airtight Containers (can, pouch, jar)
Prepared or Preserved Loins (pre-cooked loins for canning)
Balls and Cakes
Fresh Product
Atlantic Bluefin, Pacific Bluefin, or Southern Bluefin:
The importation is covered by the regulations for the International Trade Permit.
For Tuna species other than Atlantic Bluefin, Pacific Bluefin, or Southern Bluefin, there are no NMFS import monitoring programs associated with your product. (No NMFS forms or permits are required.)
There has been an extensive commercialization and an increased consumption rate of aquaculture seafood products. As this industry grows, the use of unapproved new animal drugs and the misuse of approved new animal drugs in seafood raised through aquaculture also grows. The use of unapproved new animal drugs will have an impact on the safety of aquaculture products for consumers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to detain and refuse admission of seafood products if they find the product is not in compliance.
