Seafood Commerce & Certification

Our Seafood Inspection Program maintains contractual agreements with seafood processors and foreign/domestic distributors to provide services supporting compliance with:

Inspection and Analytical Fees

Beginning January 1, 2018, the basic hourly fee for full-time, contracted, non-HACCP (food safety), inspection services provided by the USDC Seafood Inspection Program will be $130.00.

Inspection and Analytical Service Fees    

Label Approval

There are standard procedures for processing fishery product labels submitted by official establishments for NOAA Fisheries approval.

Download label approval submittal instructions 

Advertising Your Products

We can help program participants achieve your marketing goals while maintaining compliance with the applicable federal regulations and policies. It is the USDC policy to work cooperatively and constructively with program participants and users of inspected products.

Learn more about the policy for advertising services and marks

We offer the same services to both U.S. and non-U.S. firms operating overseas or processing in foreign countries. The range of international services includes:

• Training on the principles of auditing, hazardous analysis and critical control point (food safety), or sensory analysis.

• On-site implementation and verification of HACCP-based process controls.

• Third-party verification activities for foreign processors.

• Certification agencies

• Online certification through the Seafood Inspection Services Portal

  • SISP Tutorial for Contract Customers

  • SISP Tutorial for Non-Contract Customers

Export Certification

We offer export certification services to facilitate exports of seafood products that meet the unique requirements of each importing country and any other specific industry buyer criteria.

We represent the United States in negotiations with other countries regarding their import requirements for seafood products from the United States. These negotiations frequently include the development and modification of certificates to accompany U.S. seafood exports. We are the Competent Authority to issue and sign these certificates in the United States.

If foreign border inspection posts raise questions about a certificate issued by the NOAA Seafood Inspection Program, NOAA will attest to the legitimacy of the certificate and make an effort to answer any questions. NOAA may act as a go-between for communication between the exporting industry and importing authority to quickly address issues that arise when a product is detained from entry.

Detentions related to export certificates may arise from simple language translation, varying interpretations of regulations in the importing country, or issues not related to seafood safety.

NOTE: Export certificates must be requested and issued prior to shipment of product.

Export Certification to the European Union

We certify U.S. seafood products for export to the European Union.

Instructions and requirements are available for both export health certification and IUU catch documentation required for export to EU member countries.

Note: If products are first being exported to a non-EU country, but will subsequently be exported to the EU, they must be accompanied by an IUU catch document.

Learn more about export certification to the European Union  

Export Certification to non-EU countries

The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program certifies U.S. seafood products for export to any country requiring health certification.

Get country-specific instructions and requirements for export to non-EU countries:

• A-F
• G-M
• N-Z

Certification for Exported Product Intended for Further Processing and Re-export to the EU

The Certificate of Inspection - Fishery Product Intended for Re-Export to EU is provided upon request for products that are exported from the U.S. with the intent of reprocessing and re-export to EU. The processor of the product must be listed as a current approved shipper to the E.U. While this certificate confirms the product meets the stated attestation, it is not a Health Certificate. This certificate may be requested in conjunction with a Health Certificate or as a standalone document for all destinations except EU and EFTA.

Product Registration

Product Registration is an advanced component of the SISP online system that allows eligible industry members who choose to use it to register/certify product prior to leaving the United States without providing specifics of consignee. Product eligible for this program is defined as U.S. wild caught product that originated from a USDC Approved Establishment produced under an approved Quality Management Plan.

To view the component and its features select one of the following:

Product Registration Customers

Export Certification for Aquatic Animal By-Products 

Requests for export certification of aquatic animal by-products not intended for human consumption are processed by our National Seafood Inspection Laboratory. Certificates are issued after verification that all U.S. requirements are met along with any specific requirements of the importing country. Email requests to: nmfs.nsil.fm.export@noaa.gov.

Certification Validation  

We maintain a database of verified completed seafood inspection certificates. To use the system, you will need to know the certificate number, certificate number extension, certificate date, and species.

Export Requirements

Fish and Fishery Products for Human Consumption and Fish Meal 

The foreign country export requirements provided below are based on information from prior exports, official notifications, and available online websites from each country’s competent authority. The information is meant as guidance only, and all exporters should confirm product documentation requirements with the importer and the competent foreign authorities before production for export to a foreign market. We assume no liability for the accuracy of this information.

Information provided in each country's webpage relates to certification requirements for fish and fishery products destined for human consumption. Certificates for these countries might include food safety/public health attestations, animal health attestations, or both. Email inquiries to NMFS.Seafood.Services@noaa.gov.

Foreign Approved Lists

Various foreign destinations for U.S. fishery product export have listing requirements. Exporters should carefully review their current listing status prior to arranging shipments. This section provides links to current approval lists for specific destination countries.

The listed trade partners have various listing requirements for export from the United States involving shippers and/or processors. These lists are maintained by either U.S. Department of Commerce or Food and Drug Administration in partnership with the foreign government.

Go to foreign approved list 

Trade Monitoring

NOAA Fisheries plays a critical role in streamlining seafood trade in and out of the United States. Working in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, we provide support to seafood dealers to ensure imported seafood, such as Patagonian toothfish, bluefin tuna, swordfish, and bigeye tuna, is caught and imported legally.

Learn more about the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program 

Learn more about the Seafood Import Monitoring Program 

Learn more about Tuna Tracking and Verification Program

Learn more about the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species International Trade Program

Foreign Seafood Trade Data

We maintain a foreign trade database dating back to 1975 that allows users to summarize U.S. foreign trade (imports/exports) in fish products. You can can summarize the weight and dollar value by year, product, country, and type of trade.

Learn more about foreign trade data 

We offer Three-Day Basic Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Workshops for regulators and seafood industry members operating in or exporting fish and fishery products to the United States. We provide two course options: regularly scheduled Open Enrollment courses or Custom, On-Site workshops.

Option 1: Open Enrollment (scheduled throughout the year)

Combining reading, lecture and practical application activities, this intensive 24-contact hour in-person course provides participants basic body of knowledge and skills set to apply HACCP principles to meet FDA’s Seafood HACCP regulatory requirements. The course incorporates the training curriculum designed by the Seafood HACCP Alliance, a national committee of which we are founding member.

Participants meeting the course certificate attendance and completion criteria meet FDA’s training or “body of knowledge” requirements outlined in 21 CFR Part 123.10.

Open-enrollment workshops are offered in Gloucester, Massachusetts; Long Beach, California; Seattle, Washington; and, Norfolk, VA and are conducted from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. each day. To qualify for a certificate of attendance or completion, participants must be present for all class hours, complete in-class exercises, submit and pass two homework/learning assessments, and complete and pass a final exam.

Open-enrollment workshops are open on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to availability.  NOAA SI staff are prioritized for enrollment.  

Find course dates and registration details

For more information, email Lenora Williams with our Seafood Inspection Education Program at Lenora.Williams@noaa.gov.

Option 2: On-site and Distance Learning Custom Workshops

For groups of 10 to 16 people, we offer a limited number of on-site and/or distance learning custom courses.

For a custom workshop proposal and cost estimate, please submit an online request form  

Cancellation Policy

The registration fee, less a $50 administrative fee, will be refunded if notified in writing no later than 10 days prior to the program date. No refunds will be made after that date. No shows will be billed the full cost of the workshop. Substitutions may be made prior to the course start date. We may cancel the program within 10 days of the start date if there is insufficient enrollment. For additional information, please contact Ms. Lenora Williams at Lenora.Williams@noaa.gov or 228-549-1751 Monday-Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm CST.

Workshop Cancellation Request Form 

NOAA Fisheries National Seafood Inspection Laboratory provides analyses, data management, regulatory compliance risk analysis, and technology transfer expertise to meet fishery management and seafood safety responsibilities. The lab shares seafood and aquatic animal health information and data with other federal and state agencies, academia, industry, media, and seafood consumers.

Chemical Services

We perform a number of analytical tests for clients in the seafood industry on imported and domestic fishery products on a fee-for-service basis. These services include testing products for methyl mercury, heavy metals, bisulfites, histamines, and moisture, as well as species identification and testing for veterinary drug analyses.

Contact the National Seafood Inspection Laboratory's Chemical Analytical Services 

Microbiological Services

We conduct microbiological analyses on fishery products to test for a number of contaminants, including listeria, salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, fecal coliforms, and vibrio bacteria, among others.

Contact the National Seafood Inspection Laboratory's Microbiological Services 

Species Identification

To help detect seafood fraud through species substitution, our scientists use a finfish muscle rapid screening process to identify genera and species. We’ve developed a simple, inexpensive, and fast method of screening for commonly-substituted species. Currently undergoing peer review for journal publication, our unique algorithm is part of proprietary software that uses a library of more than 100 authenticated species for comparison, and the library continues to grow.

Sustainable fisheries are critical to our nation's economy, not only for domestic jobs and sales, but also for the seafood we import and export.

Trade Monitoring

As part of our mission to sustainably manage fishery resources, we work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide support to seafood dealers that helps ensure imported seafood is caught and imported legally. 

Learn more about our trade monitoring programs:

• Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species International Trade Program
• Dolphin Safe Tuna (Tuna Tracking and Verification Program)
• Seafood Import Monitoring Program

Seafood traders can also use our Seafood Import and Export Tool to identify which NOAA trade monitoring programs they must comply with for their specific products.

Trade Agreements

As a large seafood-consuming and fishing nation, it is critical that we take an active role in shaping the conservation and management regimes of international fisheries. We work to meet the demand of U.S. consumers that imported seafood be safe, legal, and sustainable and ensure confidence in U.S. seafood by protecting and strengthening the seafood market through global trade.

Learn more about our international trade agreements

Foreign Fishery Trade Data 

We maintain a foreign trade database dating back to 1975 that allows users to summarize U.S. foreign trade in fishery products. Users can summarize the kilos and dollar value by year, product, country, and type of trade. This data is purchased from the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, which is responsible for compiling information submitted by importers and exporters to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Learn more about foreign trade

Fishery Products

We conduct an annual survey of all seafood processors that operate in the United States. This is the only comprehensive survey of the U.S. seafood processing industry and is the source of all regional and national statistics describing this portion of the industry. Reports generated from these statistics include Fisheries of the United States and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's yearbook—Fishery Statistics-Commodities. Data is also used for calculating annual U.S. seafood consumption for determining the value-added margins and consumer expenditures related to commercial fisheries and in the assessment of the impacts of changes in fishery management plans and the impacts of natural disasters. Industry trade organizations and members of the industrial and financial communities use the data to make business decisions affecting the fishing and seafood industries.

Learn more about our annual survey fishery products