Live Clam Meal Paste from Japan
A fresh meal in paste form derived from live clams, ground while fresh for use in sushi or seafood spreads, fit for human consumption. Falls under HTS 0309.90.40 as a live, fresh, or chilled meal of molluscs intended for direct eating. The 'live' aspect refers to the starting material before minimal processing into meal.
Duty Rate — Japan → United States
12.5%
Rate breakdown
9903.05.4912.5%Except for products described in headings 9903.05.85–9903.05.92, articles the product of Japan, with an ad valorem (or ad valorem equivalent) rate of duty under column 1 less than 12.5 percent, as provided for in U.S. note 52 to this subchapter
Import Tips
• Maintain cold chain documentation from harvest to import to prove 'fresh/chilled' status and prevent duty disputes
• Label clearly as 'fit for human consumption' with nutritional info to comply with FDA import alerts on seafood
• Obtain shellfish harvest tags or certificates of origin to trace molluscs and meet traceability requirements