Fresh Whole European Eels (Anguilla anguilla)
Fresh whole European eels (Anguilla anguilla) caught fresh and chilled immediately, sold ungutted for traditional European recipes like jellied eels. Classified precisely under HTS 0302.74.00.00 for fresh or chilled Anguilla spp. eels, excluding fillets.
Import Duty Rates by Country of Origin
Alternative Classifications
This product could be classified differently depending on its characteristics or intended use.
If snakehead instead of eel
Snakeheads (Channa spp.) have separate subheading 0302.94 but frozen in 0303.24; species-specific.
If destined for filleting but imported whole
Livers and roes are under 0305; whole eels remain in 0302 unless processed.
If dried, not fresh
Dried eels, even chilled post-drying, fall under Chapter 7 for dried leguminous vegetables—no, wait, actually 0305 for dried fish.
Not sure which classification is right?
The Tariff Assistant works through the GRI rules on your specific product to reach the right HTS code — and can price the duty on it in the same conversation.
Import Tips & Compliance
• Provide EU export certificates verifying no antibiotic residues, as European eels face strict scrutiny
• Package in leak-proof, chilled boxes with absorbent pads to handle natural slime; weight declarations must match exactly
• Beware of size grading pitfalls—uniform sizing aids customs valuation but avoid over-declaring value
Related Products under HTS 0302.74.00.00
Fresh Chilled Live Eels (Anguilla rostrata)
Live American eels (Anguilla rostrata) transported in chilled oxygenated water to maintain freshness, directly from aquaculture farms. Classified under HTS 0302.74.00.00 as fresh or chilled eels of Anguilla spp., excluding fillets or offal. Ideal for live seafood markets and high-end sushi restaurants.
Fresh Chilled Japanese Unagi Eels (Anguilla japonica)
Whole fresh chilled Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) harvested from coastal farms, gutted but intact for optimal flavor retention. Fits HTS 0302.74.00.00 as chilled eels of Anguilla spp., not filleted or offal. Commonly used in kabayaki grilling preparations.
Fresh Chilled Farm-Raised American Eel Fingerlings
Juvenile American eels (Anguilla rostrata) fingerlings from controlled farms, chilled for grow-out transport. Still classified under HTS 0302.74.00.00 as fresh chilled eels of Anguilla spp., regardless of size.
Chilled Gutted Shortfin Eels (Anguilla bicolor)
Shortfin eels (Anguilla bicolor) from Southeast Asian farms, gutted and chilled on ice for extended shelf life. HTS 0302.74.00.00 applies to these fresh or chilled whole eels of Anguilla spp., prior to filleting.