Seafood
The same CFIA licensing framework as fresh produce, with its own species-specific permit layer — and dry ice is the DGR angle here too.
Get a Seafood RateHS 03
Fish & seafood chapter
SFC Licence
Required for commercial seafood imports
UN 1845
Dry ice classification (frozen shipments)
3
Codes with real CPTPP savings (crab, lobster, oysters)
CFIA Safe Food for Canadians Licence
Commercial seafood imports need a Safe Food for Canadians licence — verified at import since March 2021
The same SFC licensing framework covers seafood as fresh produce, required since 2019 with verification enforced at import since March 2021. Seafood carries its own additional layer beyond that: certain species from certain origins are classified as susceptible to diseases of concern in Canada and may require an Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit — species- and origin-specific, confirmed per shipment rather than assumed.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); CBSA Customs Notice 24-03. Last verified July 2026.
Relevant HS Codes
| HS Code | Description | MFN | CPTPP | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0301.11 | Live ornamental fish, freshwater | Free | Free | Live fish — always a premium/high-value air freight commodity (requires live transport, cannot go by sea) |
| 0301.19 | Live ornamental fish, other | Free | Free | Live fish — always a premium/high-value air freight commodity (requires live transport, cannot go by sea) |
| 0301.93 | Live carp | Free | Free | Live fish — always a premium/high-value air freight commodity (requires live transport, cannot go by sea) |
| 0301.94 | Live Atlantic/Pacific bluefin tuna | Free | Free | Live fish — always a premium/high-value air freight commodity (requires live transport, cannot go by sea) |
| 0301.99 | Other live fish | Free | Free | Live fish — always a premium/high-value air freight commodity (requires live transport, cannot go by sea) |
| 0302.14 | Fresh/chilled Atlantic salmon | Free | Free | Premium fresh/chilled species — typical air freight grade |
| 0302.21 | Fresh/chilled halibut | Free | Free | Premium fresh/chilled species — typical air freight grade |
| 0302.31 | Fresh/chilled albacore/longfinned tuna | Free | Free | Premium fresh/chilled species (sushi-grade) — typical air freight grade |
Source: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2026/html/00/ch03-eng.html
CPTPP savings on this lane
0302.91
Fish livers, roes and milt
0306.14.90
Frozen crab, other
0306.11
Frozen rock lobster and other sea crawfish
0307.11.10
Live/fresh/chilled oysters, in shell
Canadian Import Process
Confirm SFC licence
Confirm the Canadian importer holds a valid Safe Food for Canadians licence before booking.
Check Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit
Confirm whether the specific species and origin requires an Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit — this is species- and origin-specific, not a blanket requirement.
Cold chain and dry ice arrangement
Book temperature-controlled handling directly with the carrier; declare dry ice (UN 1845, PI 954) on the AWB if used for frozen shipments.
CBSA examination
Goods clear against the commercial invoice, SFC licence reference, and any required Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit.
Customs release
Shipment released to the importer — at the CPTPP rate where a real saving applies, or the standard MFN rate otherwise.
Worked example
300kg of frozen king crab, Jakarta to Toronto
A 300kg shipment of frozen king crab, other (HS 0306.14.90) needs to move from CGK to YYZ. The fastest confirmed routing on that pair today is China Airlines through TPE, at 2-3 days (TPE freighter connection, limited to Mon/Thu departures).
Before booking, UAL confirms the Canadian importer's SFC licence and checks whether king crab from this specific origin requires an Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit. Because this is a frozen shipment, dry ice arrangements are confirmed with the carrier, and UN 1845 is declared on the AWB if used for the cold chain.
HS 0306.14.90 carries a real 5% MFN duty that CPTPP brings to zero — unlike HS 0306.14.10 (king/snow crab for processing), which is already Free at MFN. On arrival, CBSA clears the shipment against the commercial invoice, SFC licence reference, and any permit on file.
Why ship seafood through UAL
Cold chain and dry ice, handled correctly
Temperature-controlled handling and dry ice arrangements are confirmed directly with the carrier before tender — the same discipline covered on our dry ice shipping guide, applied to seafood rather than pharma.
SFC and species-specific permits checked
We verify the SFC licence and confirm whether the specific species and origin needs an Aquatic Animal Health Import Permit — not a generic produce-style checklist applied to a different commodity.
IATA DGR certified
UAL holds IATA DGR certification. Frozen seafood shipments using dry ice are declared and handled directly against the current DGR edition by our own trained team.
DGR Note — Frozen Seafood on Dry Ice
Frozen seafood packed on dry ice is dangerous goods cargo — even though the fish itself isn't
The dry ice refrigerant, not the seafood, is what triggers DG handling: UN 1845, Class 9, PI 954. Vented packaging and prior carrier arrangement both apply, and a Shipper's Declaration is only required if the dry ice is also refrigerating something else that needs one.
Read the full dry ice shipping guide →Source: IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, PI 954.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — the same Safe Food for Canadians licensing framework covers both, though produce and seafood are licensed as separate commodity categories under it. An SFC licence for produce doesn't automatically cover seafood imports.
Seafood · 24 HS codes · CPTPP savings on 4 codes
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