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CSMS # 62377642 - FDA Releases Informational Video on Importing Seafood

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is excited to announce the release of a new YouTube video on the FDA’s Import Process for Seafood.

Watch “Importing FDA-Regulated Products: Seafood” now on FDA’s YouTube channel!

If you are importing a seafood product, it is likely regulated by the FDA. The agency regulates all seafood products introduced into or offered for sale in interstate commerce, except catfish, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The regulatory requirements may depend on the specific type of seafood product you are importing.

As part of the FDA’s commitment to protect public health by ensuring the safety of our nation’s seafood supply, we have developed this video to assist businesses, individuals, and governments in navigating the complexities of importing safe and compliant seafood into the United States. We encourage you to share this video across your networks, spreading awareness of this valuable resource among peers, colleagues, and interested stakeholders.

To successfully import seafood products into the United States, there are many things an importer should know regarding the products they are importing and their suppliers. This video will provide helpful information on the FDA import process for seafood including:

• Know The Requirements
  • Food Facility Registration
  • Seafood Safety Practices
  • Nutrition and Labeling
  • Prior Notice
  • Other Requirements
• Declaring the Shipment
• FDA Admissibility Process

This video is the third in the “Importing FDA-Regulated Products” series. It follows an introductory video on the general FDA import process “Importing FDA-Regulated Products: The Import Process,” released in March 2022 and “Importing FDA-Regulated Products: Human Foods" released in September 2023. Watch both now on FDA’s YouTube channel!

Additional Resources:

• For more information please visit:
  • FDA’s Import Program
  • FDA Seafood
    • Seafood Regulation & Guidance
    • Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
    • Guidance for Industry: Seafood HACCP and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
    • National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)
    • Seafood List Database (Fish Naming)
    • Food Compliance Programs (CPs)
    • Food Compliance Policy Guides (CPGs)
  • Prior Notice
  • Food Facility Registration
  • Import Alerts
  • Labeling and Nutrition
    • Food Labeling Guide
  • How to Start a Food Business
  • Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP)
• ITACS: To monitor the real-time status of a shipment, submit entry documents, submit locations for examination, and obtain Notices of FDA Action, please visit https://itacs.fda.gov.

Contact Information: 

• For general import operation or policy questions, please contact the Office of Import Operations (OIO) at Imports@fda.hhs.gov.
• For regulatory questions or questions about specific seafood products, please contact the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at https://www.fda.gov/food/resources-you-food/industry-and-consumer-assistance-cfsan