Export Requirements by Country and Jurisdiction (N-Z)
The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program certifies U.S. seafood products for export to any country requiring health certification.
New Caledonia
These instructions establish and implement a procedure which will assure national uniformity in the completion and issuance of the USDC SIP Export Health certificate unique to the product and shipment to New Caledonia for computer-based certificates.
General
- There are 3 Export Health Certificates for New Caledonia unique to the type and presentation of the fishery product:
New Caledonia Mollusc
New Caledonia Crustacean
New Caledonia Fish
Requests for Inspection:
Each request will be submitted and processed using the SISP’s “Request Service” function. Please see Processing Requests for Inspection Services (Part 1 Chapter 12). If a submitted request does not contain the information necessary to perform the inspection, the Requestor will be notified and the request will be reopened for correction and resubmittal
Completing the Export Health Certificate:
The certificate is prepared by transferring to it the pertinent information taken from its accompanying request and observations made during the inspection. In the case of an Approved Establishment with a USDC NOAA EMP, the information will be provided by the requesting firm. All certification should be done via the NOAA SIP online certificate system. Only as an option when the system is down or unavailable is a PDF version issued. The directions below are guidance for both the system completion and the PDF certification for information required in fields located on the documents.
The certificate will be printed on official USDC watermarked paper only.
General instructions for Completion of the New Caledonia Export Health Certificates
- Choose appropriate Export certificate for unique product and presentation of product.
- Ensure specific attestations listed on the certificate have been met for each consignment.
Acts and Regulations
http://www.davar.gouv.nc/portal/page/portal/davar/importations/produits_animal
New Zealand
Certification Requirements
All firms requesting an export certificate must be listed as an Approved Establishment in the USDC Seafood Inspection Program. All consignments must have been produced in an Approved Facility, have a USDC SIP lot inspection and a USDC SIP export health certificate unique to the product and shipment.
Import Permit
In addition to a U.S. certificate, certain products require a permit to import, which is issued by the government of New Zealand. A permit to import will be granted on a single consignment basis only.
Importation of trout and trout products into New Zealand for commercial use is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to the following trout species, either dead or alive, or any product containing:
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
- American brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
- Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki)
- Golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita)
- Gila trout (Oncorhynchus gilae)
- Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache)
- Mexican trout (Oncorhynchus chyrsogaster)
or any hybrid of a fish listed above.
Commercial consignments of commercially packaged (non-trout) salmonids exported to New Zealand must be for direct retail sale and human consumption and require no further packaging and/or processing prior to retail sale or use in institutional trade. Commercial consignments do not require a permit to import but they must have a U.S. certificate and must be eligible for biosecurity clearance at the New Zealand border.
The importation of salmonid products in bulk form (product which is intended to be further processed and/or packaged in New Zealand prior to retail sale or use in the institutional trade), requires a permit to import issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries.
Tolerances and Guidelines
- Mercury (total): 0.5 ppm
- Arsenic: 1.0 ppm
- Lead: 2.0 ppm
- Fluorine: 10.0 ppm
- Zinc: 40.0 ppm
- Selenium: 2.0 ppm
- Cadmium: 1.0 ppm
- Tin: 150.0 ppm
- Antimony: 1.0 ppm
- Copper: 30.0 ppm
(These apply to fish and fish products on a fresh weight basis.)
Current applicable guidelines, standards and restrictions that can be applied to Canadian fish and fish products may be found in the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries website.
Nigeria
Acts and Regulations
Labeling requirements:
- consignee's mark and port mark
- containers must be numbered to correspond with numbers on invoices
Tolerances and Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements - None specified.
Norway
Norway has adopted the certification and import requirements in place for the European Union (EU) by signing the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. Consult the European Union certification requirements for certification of product exported to Iceland.
NOAA SIP Guidelines for the Export of Fishery Products to EFTA Countries
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organization set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.
Guidance on the completion of the model health certificate for imports of fishery products intended for human consumption to EFTA countries.
The following guidance is provided to assist with the completion of the model health certificate for imports of fishery products intended for human consumption as laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 (1) as amended.
It incorporates the notes for guidance listed on the certificate itself and the explanatory notes found in Commission Decision 2007/240/EC (2).
In addition, guidance has been obtained from the texts of the international standard-setting body Codex Alimentarius. In the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance, and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CAC/GL 38-2001(3) issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (4) replacement certificates are foreseen for certain administrative corrections or if the certificates were lost or damaged.
All certification should be done via the NOAA SIP online certificate system. A PDF version can be used only when the system is down or unavailable. The directions below are guidance for both online and PDF certification.
Certifying officers must verify that all firms that handled, processed, or stored the product and its ingredients are listed as current approved shippers to the EU.
U.S. facilities should appear on European Union Approved list.
Certifying officers should verify that all foreign-sourced material should be from manufacturing facilities listed.
The certificate must be issued before the consignment to which it relates leaves the control of the competent authority of the country of dispatch. Therefore the health certificate must be issued after all the products in the consignment have been produced but before the consignment leaves the country, ideally when the product leaves the dispatch establishment.
The original version of the certificate must accompany consignments on entry into EFTA country (original signature of an authorized officer, the name in capital letters, the qualification and title, and original stamp of the competent authority).
The EFTA countries have elected to use the EU model health certificate with public and animal health attestations. All intentions of the attestations must be met including Approved Facility listings and raw material sourcing requirements.
Peru - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Peru export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption will be provided to requesting facilities that are USDC Approved Establishments for Fishery By-products in good standing with SIP program requirements and have had their product tested within the last 12 months.
Philippines
Acts and Regulations
Prior to import, approval must be obtained from the Bureau of Fisheries and the Food and Drug Administration.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Arcadia Bldg.
860 Quezon Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila, 3008, Philippines
Food and Drug Administration
Rizal Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Labeling and Marking Standards:
Label must be marked in English, Spanish or Filipino, showing brand name, trade mark or trade name, physical or chemical composition, weight or measurement in metric units, name and address of packer or seller, and country of origin.
Bureau of Standards
TML Bldg.
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tolerances and Guidelines
- Mercury (as methyl mercury): 0.5 ppm
- Tin: 200.0 ppm
- Lead: 0.5 ppm
- Arsenic: 3.0 ppm
Certification Requirements - None specified.
Russia
Listed below are the certification requirements for shipments to Russia. As of fall 2014, Russia imposed a ban on imports of fish and fishery products from the United States. This ban is still in effect. For this reason, USDC Seafood inspection program cannot issue Export Certificates for product bound for Russia. In addition, while the ban is in effect, USDC Seafood Inspection Program is unable to request any updates to the Rosselkhoznadsor list.
Certification Requirement
Effective November 10, 2010, U.S. seafood firms in the supply chain desiring to produce, pack, store, or ship fish and fishery products for export to the Russian Federation must meet the requirements of the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program to be “approved establishments” in accordance with the regulations and policies of the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program. Only establishments approved by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program and subsequently approved by Rosselkhoznadzor—the Russian food safety agency—may receive certification from NOAA for export to the Russian Federation. This export procedure is required by Russian law and is in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding approved by United States and Russian officials and Federal Register Notice.
Any firm requesting an export health certificate for the Russian Federation must be listed on the Russian Federation website and be an approved establishment with the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program. All operations within the supply chain for a specific lot of product being shipped to the Russian Federation, including vessels, storage warehouses, and processors, are to be approved establishments of the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program.
All supply chain points for a specific lot of product to be certified need not be listed on the Russian Federation website. However the requestor of the certificate may only request certificates for products that have originated, been handled, or processed by firms that are on the List of approved establishments for SIP. One exception exists, brokers, which may be listed on the Russian Federation site are not required to be approved establishments. Brokers are still required to send products that have met all the requirements.
Firms desiring to be listed on the Russian site of approved shippers must follow the following procedures:
- Submit your request to the nearest Seafood Inspection Program Regional Inspection Branch. When submitting the request firms must provide the full name of the firm to be listed, the FEI number, address, type of operation (broker, processor, vessel, etc.) and products to be included on the list.
- Submission requests for inclusion on the list are collected by SIP and submitted monthly. Inclusion on the list takes a minimum of 45 days from the time it is submitted by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program to Rosselkhoznadzor.
- Once a firm is listed and desires a certificate, they are to contact the servicing Regional Inspection Branch for such a request. The product lot must not only originate from and be handled by approved establishments it must also be inspected either through in-plant inspection service or lot inspected. Firms must be able to provide evidence the product came through approved establishments throughout the supply chain. (Note: We are now only requiring the product be processed by an approved establishment. The industry will be notified when it is required to have all points in the chain approved.)
- Certificates must be issued prior to shipment.
There are a number of analytical tests performed by the Russian border inspection posts and at times there are issues related to these test results. SIP will investigate any positive findings and report back to the Russian Federation.
Acts and Regulations
Product Standards:
GOSSTANDART
Joint Russian Federation State Customs Committee and State Committee of the Russian Federation for Standardization, Metrology and Certification
Importation Regulations:
Ministry of Foreign Trade
32/34 Smolenskaya – Sennaya
Moscow G–200
Tolerances or Guidelines
Mercury:
Fish (live, raw, refrigerated, frozen) viscera, minced blocks, fillets:
- freshwater non–predatory fish, fish oil: 0.3 ppm
- freshwater predatory fish: 0.6 ppm
- saltwater fish, fish liver and products made of fish liver, fish flour: 0.5 ppm
- milt, fish eggs, mollusks, crustaceans: 0.2 ppm
- seaweed: 0.1 ppm
Saudi Arabia
All firms requesting an export health certificate must be listed on the Saudi Arabia Seafood Export list before fishery and/or aquaculture products can be certified by NOAA SIP for export to Saudi Arabia. Firms may apply for inclusion on the list using the FDA Export Listing Module (ELM). Please visit Online Applications for Export Lists for a link to this electronic system and step-by-step instructions.
It is important to note that NOAA-SIP will only issue certificates to establishments for products produced by Saudi Arabia Seafood Export list listed/approved establishments.
Serbia
The Republic of Serbia has adopted the certification and import requirements in place for the European Union (EU); however, Serbia is not a member of the European Union.
Consult the European Union certification requirements for certification of product exported to Serbia.
Serbia has elected to use the EU model health certificate with public and animal health attestations. Allattestations must be met including Approved Facility listings and raw material sourcing requirements. Serbia is not a participant of the Veterinary Equivalence Agreement between the US and EU, therefore all product exported to Serbia, require physical inspection.
If the product is produced under a USDC NOAA EMP, a Lot inspection is not required. Documentation verification must still be completed for each consignment.
Singapore
Acts and Regulations - None specified.
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements - None specified.
South Africa
Acts and Regulations - Compulsory Specification for Dried Abalone – VC 9108
Tolerances and Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements
Effective November 23, 2025, South African authorities will implement updated import requirements for dried abalone. U.S. exporters must comply with the following provisions to ensure products are eligible for entry:
- Official Certification Required: All shipments of dried abalone must be accompanied by an export health certificate issued through the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program. The certificate must reflect the product’s compliance with South Africa’s specific import conditions for dried abalone.
- Product Eligibility: Only dried abalone processed in facilities under official inspection and meeting applicable sanitation and processing standards will be eligible for certification.
- Documentation and Traceability: Exporters must provide complete documentation verifying the source of raw materials, processing methods, and final drying procedures. Traceability from harvest to export is required.
- Labeling Requirements: Products must be clearly labeled in accordance with South African import regulations, including species name, production lot number, and country of origin.
- Advance Planning Recommended: Exporters are encouraged to work closely with their local Seafood Inspection Office well in advance of the shipping date to ensure that all documentation and certification requirements are met.
Note: These requirements apply only to dried abalone. Other seafood products may be subject to different conditions.
For more information or to initiate certification, please contact your local NOAA Seafood Inspection Program office.
South Korea - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption will be provided to requesting facilities that are USDC Approved Establishments for Fishery By-products, are in good standing with SIP program requirements, and have had product tested within the last 12 months.
Sri Lanka
Acts and Regulations
An application for an import license is required for dried and salted or curried fish.
Labeling:
- country of origin
- consignee's mark with port mark
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements - None specified.
St. Lucia
Acts and Regulations - None specified.
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements
A standard Export Health Certificate is required for all commercial imports of fish and fishery products.
Switzerland
As a country that has signed the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, Switzerland has adopted the certification and import requirements in place for the European Union (EU). Consult the European Union certification requirements for certification of product exported to Iceland.
NOAA SIP Guidelines for the Export of Fishery Products to EFTA Countries
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organization set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.
Guidance on the completion of the model health certificate for imports of fishery products intended for human consumption to EFTA countries.
The following guidance is provided to assist with the completion of the model health certificate for imports of fishery products intended for human consumption as laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005(1) as amended.
It incorporates the notes for guidance listed on the certificate itself and the explanatory notes found in Commission Decision 2007/240/EC (2).
In addition, guidance has been obtained from the texts of the international standard-setting body Codex Alimentarius. In the Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance, and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CAC/GL 38-2001(3) issued by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (4), replacement certificates are foreseen for certain administrative corrections or if the certificates were lost or damaged.
All certification should be done on the NOAA SIP online certificate system. A PDF version is available when the system is down or unavailable. The directions below are guidance for both online and PDF certification.
Certifying officers must verify that all firms that handled, processed or stored the product and its ingredients are listed as current approved shippers to the EU.
U.S. facilities should appear on European Union Approved list.
Certifying officers should verify that all foreign-sourced material should be from manufacturing facilities listed.
The certificate must be issued before the consignment to which it relates leaves the control of the competent authority of the country of dispatch. Therefore the health certificate must be issued after all the products in the consignment have been produced but before the consignment leaves the country, ideally when the product leaves the dispatch establishment.
The original version of the certificate must accompany consignments on entry into EFTA country (original signature of an authorized officer, the name in capital letters, the qualification and title, and original stamp of the competent authority).
The EFTA countries have elected to use the EU model health certificate with public and animal health attestations. All intentions of the attestations must be met including Approved Facility listings and raw material sourcing requirements.
Taiwan
Certification Requirements
These instructions establish and implement a procedure to ensure national uniformity in the completion and issuance of the USDC Seafood Inspection Program Health Certificate for exports of fishery products/molluscan shellfish intended for human consumption, specific to Taiwan’s import requirements.
New Certification Requirement Effective August 12, 2025
Effective August 12, 2025, Taiwan will grant full market access to all U.S. fishery products, expanding eligibility beyond the previously limited list of approved HS Codes. However, all future shipments must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program.
Certification Notes:
Molluscan shellfish exports already require a health certificate. The specific harvest/growing state and location must be noted in Box I.28 of the certificate.
Previously, certification for other fishery products was voluntary. Now, NOAA certification is mandatory for all fishery products, including non-shellfish items.
HS Codes:
Previously eligible products (as of January 1, 2025) under specific HS codes remain valid. With the updated rules, all HS codes under chapters 03, 1604, and 1605 are now eligible, provided the product meets certification requirements.
Acts and Regulations
Labeling:
- Country and province of origin must be declared.
- All master cartons require a shipping mark. Please contact the importer for further details.
Tolerances and Guidelines - None specified.
Taiwan - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption will be provided to requesting facilities that are USDC Approved Establishments for Fishery By-products, are in good standing with SIP program requirements, and have had product tested within the last 12 months.
Thailand
Acts and Regulations
Labeling (canned fishery products):
Labeled and marked in the Thai language showing the common name food, registration number, name and address of manufacturer, date of manufacturing, net weight of content, and any additives used.
Certification Requirements
There are no specified requirements for export to Thailand. A model certificate is available upon request for U.S. exports to Thailand. If a certificate is requested, it must be issued prior to departure from the U.S. and an original version of the certificate must accompany consignments on entry into Thailand.
Tolerances or Guidelines
| Mercury: | 0.5 ppm |
| Arsenic: | 2.0 ppm |
| Copper: | 20.0 ppm |
| Lead: | 1.0 ppm |
| Tin: | 250.0 ppm |
| Tin (canned products): | 100.0 ppm |
| *Aldrin: | 0.1 ppm |
| *BHC: | 0.5 ppm |
| *D.D.T.: | 5.0 ppm |
| *Dieldrin: | 0.3 ppm |
| *Endrin: | 0.3 ppm |
| *Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide: | 0.3 ppm |
| *Lindane: | 0.5 ppm |
| *Malathion: | 0.6 ppm |
| *Parathion: | 0.2 ppm |
(*in fish and fish products on a fresh weight basis)
Thailand - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption will be provided to requesting facilities that are USDC Approved Establishments for Fishery By-products, are in good standing with SIP program requirements, and have had product tested within the last 12 months.
Trinidad and Tobago
Acts and Regulations
Importers of fish (fresh, chilled or frozen) shrimp or prawns (excluding canned shrimps and prawns), and canned tuna must have an import license.
Contacts:
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumers Affairs
Salvatory Bldg.
Frederick Street
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Telephone: 62-38841
Food and Drug Division
Ministry of Health
Labeling:
Outer containers:
- consignee's mark and port mark
- numbered unless containers can be readily identified
Food products:
- brand name, common brand, net weight, volume, ingredients list, declaration of preservatives, food colors and imitation flavorings used.
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements
All fishery products must be accompanied by the origin country export health certificate.
Tunisia
Acts and regulations - None specified.
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification Requirements - None specified.
Turkey
Acts and Regulations - None Specified.
Tolerances or Guidelines - None Specified
Certification Requirements
The Republic of Turkey has elected to use the EU model health certificate with public and animal health attestations. All attestation requirements must be met, including approved facility listings and raw material sourcing. As Turkey is not part of the U.S.-EU Veterinary Equivalence Agreement, all products exported to Turkey require a physical inspection. If the product is produced in a USDC-Approved Establishment under USDC NOAA EMP, a lot inspection is not required. All U.S. facilities must appear on the European Union Approved list.
Only product processed in the U.S. is eligible for certification. Foreign-sourced raw materials must be further processed by a U.S. establishment.
The health certificate must be issued after all products in the consignment have been produced but before the consignment leaves U.S. control, ideally when it departs the dispatch establishment. The original certificate must accompany consignments on entry into the Republic of Turkey (original signature of an authorized officer, the name in capital letters, the qualification and title, and original stamp of the competent authority).
Border Inspection Timeframes
Shipments entering Turkey must arrive within a specific timeframe following certification to undergo veterinary controls:
- Airports: Within 12 to 48 hours of certification
- Ports: Within 7 to 20 days of certification
In certain cases—such as transshipment or vessel-to-vessel transfers at the same port—the Ministry may extend the maximum port timeframe to 14 days. If a shipment arrives after these timeframes, it will be subject to identity and physical checks at the designated border control point.
Regulations
Effective October 13, 2023, all products intended for export to Turkey shall comply with Turkish food regulations prohibiting the use of pork, porcine, or pig-derived substances in food additives, food enzymes, and food flavorings. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives, all manufactured and processed foods shall meet the nutritional information requirements established by the Turkish Ministry. Exporters should ensure compliance with all applicable Turkish regulatory requirements.
Turkey - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption is NOT available at this time for products destined for Turkey. Until the U.S. and Turkey agree on an acceptable certificate format, we are unable to issue export health certificates to Turkey for rendered fishery products.
Ukraine
Tolerances or Guidelines - None specified.
Certification requirements
Each shipment of fish and seafood products exported to Ukraine must be accompanied by Ukraine Export Health certificate. The original version of the certificate must accompany consignments on entry into Ukraine (original signature of an authorized officer, the name in capital letters, the qualification and title, and original stamp of the competent authority).
Ukraine has adopted the certification requirements in place for the European Union (EU).
Ukraine is not a participant of the Veterinary Equivalence Agreement between the US and EU, therefore all product exported to Ukraine requires physical inspection. If the product is produced in an Approved Establishment with USDC NOAA EMP, a Lot inspection is not required.
Certifying officers must verify that all firms that handled, processed, or stored the product and its ingredients are listed as current approved shippers to the E.U.
US Facilities should appear the European Union Approved list at the following link:
Certifying officers should verify that all foreign-sourced material should be from manufacturing facilities listed at the following link: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/tracesnt/directory/listing/establishment/publication/index#!/search?classificationSectionId=FISHERY_PRODUCTS&classificationSectionChapter=food&countryCode=US
United Arab Emirates
Acts and Regulations
None specified.
Tolerances or Guidelines
None specified.
Certification Requirements
These instructions establish and implement a procedure, which will assure national uniformity in the completion and issuance of the USDC Seafood Inspection program the Health Certificate for aquatic animals (live/products) including molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians and echinoderms intended for human consumption exported to the United Arab Emirates unique to the product and shipment to UAE.
Beginning November 2018, each shipment of fish and seafood products exported to United Arab Emirates must be accompanied by a Health Certificate for aquatic animals (live/products) including molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians and echinoderms intended for human consumption exported to the United Arab Emirates.
Normal inspection procedures apply to these products, e.g. lot inspection,in-plant inspection or an Approved Establishment with a USDC NOAA EMP.
Venezuela
Acts and Regulations
Labeling requirements:
- each carton or container in the lot must be labeled with the importer's license number
- each box or carton must have the port of destination clearly marked
- all units of measurement, weight, length, etc., must be stated in metric on all documentation
Tolerances and Guidelines
These tolerances apply to all products either fresh or frozen:
| Heavy Metals | Fish Species | Tolerance |
| Arsenic: | sardines, shellfish, tuna | 0.1 ppm |
| Cadmium: | sardines, tuna | not detectable |
| Cadmium: | shellfish | 0.1 ppm |
| Copper: | sardines, tuna, shellfish | 0.1 ppm |
| Mercury: | sardines, shellfish | 0.1 ppm |
| Mercury: | tuna | 0.5 ppm |
| Tin: | sardines, shellfish, tuna | 100.0 ppm |
Certification Requirements - None specified.
Vietnam
Establishment Approval
All processors shipping product intending to enter commerce in Vietnam must be an Approved Establishment in the Seafood Inspection Program to obtain certification.
As of December 2017, DAH of Vietnam has removed all Live product processors from the Vietnam approved list. DAH has deemed Live shipments outside the scope of Decree 15 and thus no longer require listing. Live product processors require Approved Establishment status with USDC and accompanying Health Certification for shipment but are no longer required to be listed on the Vietnam approved list.
For processed and pre-packaged products—those that are both processed (e.g., cooked, canned, smoked, fermented, frozen, or ready-to-eat) and pre-packaged (sealed, labeled, and ready for final consumer use)—the facility does not need to be listed or registered on the Vietnam Approved List.
Firms desiring to export seafood products to Vietnam are also required to be approved by the Vietnamese authority, DAH, prior to shipment.
DAH requires the competent authority to send originals of Form 9 for each firm requesting approval and listing. This is to be accompanied with the authority's completion of Form 7. Additional information including, the process flow diagram, a HACCP plan (grid) and a sample label are required for each submission.
Brokers are not required to be on the list, only the final processor. Brokers may only ship products to Vietnam that originate from a processor on the list.
Please submit the completed Form 9 and electronic version(s) of the additional required documents for each the products you want listed to Shelley.Davis@noaa.gov NOAA SIP will sign and stamp the documents and forward the hard copy to Vietnam.
(If you are a broker only, you are not required to be listed.)
Certification Requirements
Once approved and published on the DAH website, firms must request an Export Health certificate via the online Seafood Inspection Services Portal (SISP).
Beginning in April 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Decree 41/2026, requires inspection and control procedures for imported wild-caught fishery products transported by container vessels. No later than 48 hours prior to vessel arrival, the cargo owner or exporter must submit complete documentation to the competent Vietnamese authorities for pre-arrival document inspection. Required documents include, but are not limited to, the Catch Certificate, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and any other mandatory supporting documentation.
Products destined for further processing in Vietnam must be lot inspected prior to certification if the firm is not an SIP Approved Establishment.
DAH desires NOAA to inspect and certify the products being sent to Vietnam. Firms should join the Seafood Inspection Program as approved establishments. DAH requires a pre-shipment clearance process for each shipment to Vietnam. However, our Program policies and procedures are understood and DAH has agreed to its terms. This means that, depending upon your level of participation in our Program, not every shipment must be lot inspected.
An export health certificate must accompany every shipment exported to Vietnam. The producer named on the certificate must also appear on the product label, including both the primary and shipping containers. Labels must be bilingual in accordance with Vietnam Circular 13.
Firms exporting products intended solely for reprocessing and re-export are not required to be listed on the SIP Approved Establishment List or the DAH list. However, an export health certificate is still required. In these cases, the following statement will be included on the certificate:
“Product is intended for reprocessing and re-export only.”
Under Decree 15 on Food Safety, dietary supplements and food ingredients fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and are not subject to DAH registration requirements.
These products are subject to self-declaration or are exempt per the info below.
- Import for commercial sale: Importers must publish Form of Products Self-Declaration prior to importation. The procedure is prescribed in Article 5 of Decree 15 (Exporters must provide manufacturers’ specifications).
- Import for internal use/processing for export: Importers are exempt from Self-Declaration, but must show proof of importation for internal use/processing for export. Ingredients imported for these purposes are also exempt from import inspection.
If there are any questions, please contact Shelly Davis at Shelley.Davis@noaa.gov.
Vietnam - Rendered Fishery By-Products
Export health certification for fishery by-products not intended for human consumption will be provided to requesting facilities that are USDC Approved Establishments for Fishery By-products, are in good standing with SIP program requirements, and have had product tested within the last 12 months.
Zambia
Tolerances or Guidelines
| Mercury (as methyl mercury): | tuna | 0.3 ppm |
| other fish | 0.2 ppm | |
| Arsenic: | fish protein | 3.5 ppm |
| other fish & fish products | 5.0 ppm | |
| Copper: | all fish & fish products | 100.0 ppm |
| Lead: | fish protein | 0.5 ppm |
| other fish & fish products | 10.0 ppm | |
| Flourine: | fish protein | 150.0 ppm |
| other fish & fish products | 25.0 ppm | |
| Zinc : | all fish products | 100.0 ppm |
| Sodium sulphite: | canned flaked tuna | 300.0 ppm |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate: (total added phosphate) | frozen fish fillets, lobsters, crabs, clams, shrimps | 0.5% |
| Sodium carbonate: (combination of sodium hexametaphosphate) | frozen fillets, lobsters, crabs, clams, shrimps | 15.0% |
| Propyl-P-hydroxy benzoate: | used as a preservative | 1000.0 ppm |
| Methyl-P-hydroxy benzoate: | used as a preservative | 1000.0 ppm |
Certification Requirements -None specified.