Blue whiting serves both markets: smaller, higher-quality fish go to human consumption, while the bulk of the catch is reduced to fishmeal and fish oil. The HTS classification depends on the product's physical form at the time of import, not its intended end use. Whole or dressed fresh fish classifies here; fishmeal and fish oil have entirely separate chapter 23 and chapter 15 classifications respectively.

Because fresh blue whiting is an infrequent import, US Customs and Border Protection officers and FDA reviewers may have less familiarity with the species. Importers should ensure catch certificates clearly identify Micromesistius poutassou, that the foreign establishment is registered with FDA, and that HACCP records are complete — gaps that might pass unnoticed for high-volume species can trigger examination holds for less common ones.