Fresh Chilled Pond Smelt
Pond smelt (Hypomesus olidus), a small freshwater smelt from Asian lakes and rivers, shipped fresh or chilled on ice for retail sale. HTS 0302.89.50.37 covers these as other fresh/chilled smelts, whole and excluding fillets or meat of 0304. Popular in Japanese cuisine as 'wakasagi'.
Import Duty Rates by Country of Origin
Alternative Classifications
This product could be classified differently depending on its characteristics or intended use.
If for industrial or bait use, frozen
Frozen fish not for human consumption (e.g., bait) may classify under different subheadings based on end use, per statistical notes.
If considered edible offal rather than whole fish
Subheadings 0302.91-0302.99 exclude edible offal, which would go to liver/roe headings like 0302.91 if separated.
If dried, even without further preparation
Dried fish, fit for human consumption, falls under 0309 per chapter structure, not fresh/chilled 0302.
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Import Tips & Compliance
• Use insulated containers with temperature loggers; customs may test core temperature to confirm chilled vs frozen status
• Obtain veterinary health certificate if from aquaculture sources, detailing feed and water quality to meet APHIS requirements
• Avoid common pitfall of generic 'small fish' labeling—specify 'smelt' species to prevent duty assessment under higher-rate codes
Related Products under HTS 0302.89.50.37
Fresh Chilled Rainbow Smelt
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is a small, silvery fish commonly harvested from cold North Atlantic and Great Lakes waters, sold fresh or chilled whole for human consumption. It falls under HTS 0302.89.50.37 as fresh or chilled smelts, excluding fillets or other fish meat of heading 0304, and not prepared for human consumption under other headings. These are typically gutted but left intact with heads and tails.
Fresh Chilled Capelin Smelt
Capelin (Mallotus villosus), a type of smelt abundant in North Atlantic and Pacific waters, imported fresh or chilled whole for food markets. Classified under HTS 0302.89.50.37 as other fresh/chilled smelts, not filleted and excluding offal. Often used in sushi or fried preparations.
Fresh Chilled European Smelt
European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), a marine fish from Baltic and North Seas, imported fresh or chilled whole in bulk for wholesalers. Fits HTS 0302.89.50.37 as specified smelts, fresh/chilled, not filleted per heading 0304 exclusion. Known for cucumber-like aroma when fresh.
Fresh Chilled Spirinchus Smelt
Spirinchus starksi, known as 'shiro-uo' or whitebait smelt from Pacific coasts, supplied fresh or chilled whole for Asian markets. HTS 0302.89.50.37 applies to these other smelts, excluding processed forms or offal. Delicate fish eaten fried or raw.