State Dept. Picks Winning Countries for Shrimp Import Certifications
Published Date: 5/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. just announced which countries’ wild-caught shrimp can swim into American markets starting April 11, 2025. If you’re a shrimp importer or exporter, you’ll need to show the right paperwork to keep things smooth. This update affects lots of nations and some special shrimp fisheries, so get ready to follow the new rules and keep those shrimp shipments flowing!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
List of Nations Approved for Wild Shrimp
On April 11, 2025, the Department of State certified that wild-caught shrimp harvested in Argentina, the Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Russia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Uruguay are eligible to enter the United States. If you import or export wild-caught shrimp from those places, those shipments are allowed under this certification.
Wild-Caught Restriction for Unlisted Nations
For nations, economies, and fisheries not listed in the April 11, 2025 certification, only shrimp harvested from aquaculture (farmed shrimp) and products from that shrimp are eligible to enter the United States. If you import wild-caught shrimp from an unlisted nation, those wild-caught shipments are not eligible under this determination.
Certain Fisheries and Products Specifically Eligible
The Department of State determined that wild-caught shrimp from particular fisheries and products are eligible to enter the United States from: Australia (Northern Prawn Fishery; the Queensland East Coast Trawl Fishery; the Spencer Gulf; and the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery), France (French Guiana), Italy (giant red shrimp), Japan (shrimp baskets in Hokkaido), Republic of Korea (mosquito nets), and Spain (Mediterranean red shrimp). If you deal with shrimp from those named fisheries or products, those specific items are eligible for U.S. entry under this determination.
DS-2031 Declaration Required for Shrimp Imports
All shrimp and products containing shrimp imported into the United States must be accompanied by the DS-2031 Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration. If you import shrimp, you must provide that DS-2031 form with shipments to comply with the rule.
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