FDA has issued import alerts for certain aquaculture products from China, including tilapia, based on findings of unapproved drug residues or sanitation concerns at specific facilities. Importers should verify that their Chinese supplier is not subject to an active FDA import alert before shipment, and should maintain supplier audit records and residue testing documentation. Admissibility is complex; consult a licensed customs broker or FDA compliance specialist.

Code 0303230000 covers tilapia in whole, gutted, or dressed form — explicitly excluding fillets, livers, and roes. Frozen tilapia fillets are classified under a separate HTS provision in the fish fillet subheadings of Chapter 03. The product's physical form at the time of importation determines which code applies, and misclassification between whole fish and fillet lines is a common audit finding.