Live, Fresh, or Chilled Molluscs (NESOI)

Conch and other live or fresh-chilled molluscs not elsewhere specified enter the US under FDA oversight as seafood, subject to HACCP-based import controls and potential detention if the exporting country's sanitation program is not recognized. The US schedule separates conch (0307910330) from all other live/fresh-chilled molluscs (0307910390), a distinction that matters for species-specific documentation and, in the case of queen conch, CITES permit requirements. Canada leads supply for this heading, with Nicaragua and Peru also significant sources, reflecting both proximity and established aquaculture and wild-harvest programs. Cold-chain integrity and harvest-area certification are the primary compliance pressure points for importers.