Seafood export is one of Vietnam\u2019s key industries, generating significant export revenue for the country. However, it is also subject to strict requirements regarding quarantine, food safety, traceability, and regulatory compliance. So, what do businesses need to prepare in order to bring Vietnamese seafood products to major global markets? Let VinaOpen explore the article below to help standardize export documentation and connect with international Buyers.<\/p>\n
With a coastline stretching over 3,260 kilometers, along with an extensive network of rivers, lakes, and aquaculture farming areas, Vietnam is considered one of the countries with strong potential for seafood industry development in Asia. Over the years, seafood has consistently remained one of Vietnam\u2019s leading export sectors, making a major contribution to agricultural export turnover while creating employment opportunities for millions of workers.<\/p>\n
In addition to its strong raw material advantages, Vietnam also has a well-developed seafood processing industry with large-scale manufacturing capacity that meets international standards. Currently, Vietnamese seafood is exported to hundreds of countries and territories worldwide, including the United States, the EU, Japan, South Korea, China, Canada, and Australia. High-value seafood export products include shrimp, pangasius, tuna, basa fish, octopus, and processed seafood products.<\/p>\n
Seafood exports are considered a high-value sector, but in return, products must meet strict international market requirements.<\/p>\n
The HS code for seafood products depends on the specific product type, seafood origin, processing method, and storage condition. Determining the correct HS code helps businesses complete customs declarations, identify export taxes, and verify related compliance requirements.<\/p>\n
Some common HS codes for seafood products include:<\/p>\n
0303<\/strong>: Frozen fish, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat under heading 03.04 Most seafood export products are subject to 0% VAT if they meet current tax regulations. In addition, many seafood items currently benefit from a 0% export tax rate to enhance international competitiveness.<\/p>\n However, businesses exporting seafood should also consider other financial obligations and costs, including customs fees, quarantine fees, cold-chain logistics costs, and certification expenses.<\/p>\n Seafood products belong to a category with extremely strict requirements related to food safety, storage conditions, inspections, and traceability. Therefore, the seafood export process is often much more complex than conventional export sectors and requires close control at every stage.<\/p>\n Below is the export procedure businesses should understand:<\/p>\n Businesses need to identify the standards required by the target market, determine the regulatory category of the exported product, and review quarantine requirements as well as necessary certifications. This helps minimize the risk of shipment rejection or customs delays.<\/p>\n Based on market requirements, exporters source raw materials, conduct preliminary processing, package goods, and freeze products according to export standards. This stage requires strict control over temperature, hygiene conditions, freezing procedures, packaging, and labeling.<\/p>\n Seafood export documents must include all necessary customs paperwork as well as quality certificates, inspections, and compliance documents required by each market.<\/p>\n Seafood belongs to a specialized regulatory category, so exporters must apply for quarantine certificates, health certificates, and food safety inspections. Once approved, official certificates will be issued to complete the export documentation.<\/p>\n Businesses proceed with customs declaration procedures, HS code declarations, and supporting export documentation to receive customs clearance approval before shipping goods overseas.<\/p>\n Goods are loaded onto shipping vessels, and exporters then send the document package to the Buyer or the bank to complete international payment according to the contract.<\/p>\n The United States is one of Vietnam\u2019s largest seafood import markets, with strong demand for products such as shrimp, pangasius, squid, and processed seafood. However, it is also a market with a highly strict food safety management and import control system.<\/p>\n Businesses exporting seafood to the U.S. must meet the following requirements:<\/p>\n FDA Registration:<\/strong> Export products must be registered with the FDA, manufacturing facilities must be declared, and businesses must maintain a suitable food safety management system.<\/p>\n HACCP Compliance:<\/strong> U.S. Buyers often assess manufacturing processes, factory hygiene conditions, quality control documentation, traceability systems, and raw material handling procedures.<\/p>\n Strict Residue and Chemical Control:<\/strong> Export products must not exceed allowable limits for antibiotic residues, heavy metals, microorganisms, or prohibited chemicals.<\/p>\n FSMA Compliance:<\/strong> Exporters must have clear food safety control systems, complete records, raw material traceability, and proper storage and transportation management.<\/p>\n Traceability and IUU Prevention:<\/strong> Seafood businesses must demonstrate legal product origins, supply chain transparency, farming area records, and aquaculture logs.<\/p>\n Packaging and Labeling Requirements:<\/strong> Seafood exports must comply with labeling regulations, including product name, ingredients, manufacturer information, country of origin, storage conditions, manufacturing date, and expiration date.<\/p>\n Japan is one of Vietnam\u2019s largest seafood import markets and is also considered one of the most demanding markets in Asia in terms of food quality, food safety, and traceability.<\/p>\n To export seafood to Japan, businesses must comply with the following standards:<\/p>\n Strict Food Safety Control<\/strong> Compliance with Japanese Food Hygiene Regulations<\/strong> Traceability Requirements<\/strong> Cold Chain and Storage Standards<\/strong> Product Labeling Regulations<\/strong> Stable Quality and Uniform Processing Standards<\/strong> The European Union (EU) is one of Vietnam\u2019s key seafood export destinations. However, this market is highly regulated and places strong emphasis on sustainability, food safety, and environmental compliance.<\/p>\n Businesses exporting seafood to the EU need to meet the following requirements:<\/p>\n EU Food Safety Regulations<\/strong> Health Certificate and Veterinary Approval<\/strong> Traceability and Supply Chain Transparency<\/strong> IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) Compliance<\/strong> Environmental and Sustainability Standards<\/strong> Packaging and Labeling Compliance<\/strong> To ensure smooth customs clearance and compliance, businesses typically need the following documentation:<\/p>\n Commercial Invoice Preparing complete and accurate documentation helps reduce customs risks, avoid delays, and improve credibility with international Buyers.<\/p>\n Vietnam\u2019s seafood industry holds significant advantages in raw material availability, manufacturing capacity, and extensive experience in exporting to international markets. However, alongside this growth potential, Vietnamese businesses also face increasing competitive pressure related to product quality, international standards, and operational efficiency.<\/p>\n Today, international Buyers are no longer focused solely on product pricing. They also carefully evaluate a company\u2019s business profile, export capability, compliance systems, and traceability standards. As a result, many Vietnamese seafood enterprises with strong production capacity still encounter challenges in accessing and building relationships with global Buyers.<\/p>\n VinaOpen was established with the vision of becoming a strategic platform that helps Vietnamese seafood businesses connect with international Buyers while strengthening their export readiness and competitiveness. VinaOpen supports enterprises in standardizing business profiles, improving export transparency, and building a more professional international presence through the following activities:<\/p>\n More than just a product showcase platform, VinaOpen also helps businesses better define their manufacturing capabilities, quality management systems, and readiness to participate in global supply chains.<\/p>\n Seafood export is not simply about supplying products to international markets. It is a long-term process in which businesses must continuously adapt to market regulations, strengthen operational capacity, and meet increasingly strict global requirements. Proactively improving production systems, standardizing business processes, and ensuring high-quality product standards will create stronger competitive advantages for Vietnamese enterprises seeking international partnerships.<\/p>\n In addition, leveraging global Buyer connection platforms like VinaOpen creates more opportunities for Vietnamese seafood businesses to access worldwide markets, expand exports, and achieve sustainable long-term growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seafood export is one of Vietnam\u2019s key industries, generating significant export revenue for the country. However, it is also subject to strict requirements regarding quarantine, food safety, traceability, and regulatory compliance. So, what do businesses need to prepare in order to bring Vietnamese seafood products to major global markets? 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0304<\/strong>: Fish fillets and other fish meat, fresh, chilled, or frozen
0306<\/strong>: Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, or frozen
0307<\/strong>: Molluscs, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, or frozen
0308<\/strong>: Aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans and molluscs, live, fresh, chilled, or frozen<\/p>\nSeafood Export Process<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Check Export Conditions and Import Market Requirements<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Prepare Goods and Control Quality<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Prepare Seafood Export Documentation<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Register for Quarantine and Specialized Inspection<\/h3>\n
Step 5: Submit Export Customs Declaration<\/h3>\n
Step 6: International Transportation and Payment Completion<\/h3>\n
U.S. Market Requirements for Seafood Exports<\/h2>\n
Standards Required for Exporting Seafood to Japan<\/h2>\n
Japan closely monitors antibiotic residues, heavy metals, microorganisms, preservatives, and chemical contamination. Products that fail to meet standards may be rejected, destroyed, or returned.<\/p>\n
Seafood products must satisfy the requirements set by Japan\u2019s food safety management system.<\/p>\n
Businesses must be able to prove the origin of raw materials, farming areas, harvesting methods, and complete supply chain information.<\/p>\n
Japan places strong emphasis on storage temperature, freezing methods, packaging conditions, and transportation quality to preserve freshness and product quality.<\/p>\n
Exported seafood must clearly state product name, ingredients, country of origin, manufacturer information, storage instructions, production date, and expiration date.<\/p>\n
Japanese Buyers often prioritize suppliers that can maintain consistent product quality, stable processing standards, and long-term reliability.<\/p>\nStandards Required for Exporting Seafood to the EU<\/h2>\n
Products must comply with EU regulations regarding microbiological safety, antibiotic residues, heavy metals, additives, and chemical contamination.<\/p>\n
Seafood products often require health certification and processing facilities approved under EU-recognized standards.<\/p>\n
Businesses must maintain complete traceability records from farming, harvesting, processing, storage, to shipment.<\/p>\n
For wild-caught seafood, exporters must prove legal fishing activities and comply with anti-IUU requirements.<\/p>\n
The EU increasingly values sustainable seafood sourcing, environmental protection, and responsible aquaculture practices.<\/p>\n
Labels must follow EU regulations, including product identity, ingredients, net weight, storage conditions, country of origin, and expiry details.<\/p>\nRequired Documents for Seafood Export<\/h2>\n
Packing List
Sales Contract
Bill of Lading
Customs Export Declaration
Certificate of Origin (C\/O)
Health Certificate
Quarantine Certificate
Food Safety Inspection Certificate
Product Quality Certificates (depending on market requirements)
Insurance documents (if applicable)
Payment-related banking documents<\/p>\nVinaOpen \u2013 A Platform Connecting International Buyers in the Seafood Industry<\/h2>\n
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