Enhancing transparency in aquatic food trade: new FAO GLOBEFISH HS tables

FAO GLOBEFISH has developed new species-specific Harmonized System (HS) code tables to support the analysis of international aquatic products trade and to facilitate a clearer understanding and effective use of the Harmonized System (HS) code across countries and product categories.

While essential, HS codes can be complex to interpret, especially in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, where the same product may be classified under different codes depending on its form (i.e. live, fresh, frozen or processed). This can be challenging for users and operators to accurately identify, apply and track these codes across trade operations and flows. To address this, the new FAO GLOBEFISH species-specific HS tables provide a practical and user-friendly tool by directly linking key aquatic species to their corresponding HS codes.

By organizing this information by species in a clear and structured manner, the tables simplify the identification and application of HS codes for aquatic products, improve consistency in their use, and support more accurate, comparable and actionable international trade data The tables are derived from the “HS codes for fisheries and aquaculture” nomenclature 2022 and are available for download under the respective FAO GLOBEFISH species page.

In this interview, FAO GLOBEFISH experts, Mariana Toussaint (MT), Fishery Officer, and Sonia Daponte Freire (SDF), International Trade Specialist, explain what HS codes are, why they matter for aquatic products trade, and how the new FAO GLOBEFISH tables can help users easily identify and apply the correct codes.

What is the Harmonized System? And why do they matter for fisheries and aquaculture trade?

MT: The Harmonized System, or HS, is a standardized classification system used worldwide to identify traded products. It assigns a numerical code to every good, including aquatic products, in this way they can be recognized consistently across countries. The HS was developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and countries began using it on 1 January 1988, when the HS came into force.

Each HS code has at least six digits and is structured from a general to specific. For example:

• The first two digits represent the chapter. This is the broad category. For example, “03” refers to fish and other aquatic products.
• The next two digits define the heading, which narrows the category, such as fresh fish, frozen fish or fillets.
• The last two digits identify the subheading, giving a more precise description of the product at the international level.

Together, these six digits form the internationally standardized HS code used in both international and, in many cases, domestic contexts.

Countries can then add additional digits to create more detailed national codes for their own statistical or regulatory purposes.

In simple terms, the HS code works from general to specific, with each pair of digits adding a new level of detail.

Which aquatic products are covered by the HS?

SDF: The HS covers all aquatic products traded internationally, across a wide range of categories. These include fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates, seaweed and other algae, as well as processed products such as fillets, canned fish, fishmeal and fish oil.

The classification reflects not only the species but also the product form. For example, the same fish can fall under different HS codes depending on whether it is fresh, frozen or prepared. Thus, HS codes tables enable more precise product classification and support more accurate trade reporting and analysis.

What do the new FAO GLOBEFISH HS tables offer?

SDP: HS codes are essential but careful attention is required when applying the codes. A single species can appear under multiple codes depending on how it is processed, and the system is approximately updated every five years, which requires continuous attention to maintain consistency and correctness in the application of the codes and in trade analysis.

The FAO GLOBEFISH tables bring this information together in a simple and consistent way. They link each species directly to all the relevant HS codes across product forms, making it much easier to identify the correct codes.

The tables focus on the most commercially important species in international trade, including bivalves, cephalopods, crabs, groundfish, lobster, salmon, seabass, seabream, small pelagics, tilapias, tunas, seaweed as well as fishmeal and fish oil.

How do the FAO GLOBEFISH tables help users in practice?

MT: The tables are designed to be straightforward. Each one focuses on a species or group of species and lists all the relevant HS codes by product form/treatment.

A user can simply look up a species and immediately see the corresponding codes. This removes the need to navigate complex nomenclatures or search across multiple categories.

They also indicate when a species is not explicitly named in the HS description but falls under a broader category, helping users interpret trade data more accurately.

Why is this important for the fisheries sector?

MT: HS codes underpin all official trade data. Using them correctly is essential to understand how aquatic products move across markets, assess tariffs, and analyze trade trends.

The FAO GLOBEFISH tables simplify the use, helping improve data quality and supporting better analysis and decision-making across the sector.