Live, Fresh, or Chilled Crabs and Crabmeat

CBP separates whole live or fresh/chilled crabs (0306334000) from fresh or chilled crabmeat (0306332000) because they represent different stages of processing with distinct commercial values and regulatory profiles. Crabmeat has been extracted from the shell and is more perishable, requiring specific temperature controls and labeling as a processed seafood product. Misclassifying picked crabmeat as whole crab — or vice versa — can result in incorrect duty assessment and statistical reporting errors.

Both products require FDA prior notice and are subject to seafood HACCP regulations, but fresh crabmeat — as a processed seafood product — must be produced under a documented HACCP plan at the foreign processing facility. FDA may examine HACCP records and conduct sampling for pathogens or chemical residues. Live whole crabs are evaluated primarily for viability and species identification. Importers of fresh crabmeat should ensure their foreign suppliers maintain current HACCP documentation and FDA facility registration. Consult a licensed customs broker or FDA compliance specialist before importing.