Sourcing
Frozen shrimp sourcing: RFQ checklist and import rules by destination
Short answer: to get comparable frozen shrimp offers, specify species, farmed or wild origin, product form, count, freezing method, glaze and net weight basis, then confirm the destination's plant eligibility and documents before you pay a deposit. FishMatch reviews each request by hand and contacts suitable producers on your behalf; it does not hold stock or sell shrimp.
What this page covers
- Raw frozen shrimp and prawns: head-on shell-on (HOSO), headless shell-on (HLSO), peeled and deveined (PD, PUD, PDTO), butterfly and easy-peel
- IQF, semi-IQF and block-frozen product
- Farmed whiteleg (Litopenaeus vannamei) and black tiger (Penaeus monodon), and wild-caught species such as Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri)
Customs codes
- HS 0306.16 / 0306.17 — frozen shrimps and prawns (HS 2017 and later)
- HS 030613 — the older code used in the 2024 trade statistics on this site
Not on this page
Cooked, breaded, marinated, live or chilled shrimp have their own page, because they are classified and controlled differently.
Frozen shrimp RFQ checklist
- Species by scientific name, and farmed or wild-caught.
- Product form (HOSO, HLSO, PD, PUD, PDTO, butterfly, easy-peel) and tail-on or tail-off.
- Count per lb or per kg, and whether the count is measured before or after glazing.
- Freezing method (IQF, semi-IQF or block) and glaze percentage; price on net de-glazed weight.
- Additive policy: no added phosphates or sulphites, or the permitted additives and limits you accept.
- Packing: inner bag or box, master carton, net weight per unit, labels and any private label.
- Volume per container, number of containers and delivery frequency over the programme.
- Destination country, port of entry and Incoterm (for example FOB, CFR, CIF).
- Documents your destination requires: health certificate, establishment approval or registration number, NOAA SIMP data for the US, catch certificate for wild shrimp into the EU.
- Pre-shipment testing you require (for example residues by an accredited laboratory) and who pays for it.
- Cold chain: product at not more than −18 °C, container set-point and temperature loggers.
- Payment terms and the quote validity date.
- Programme value: FishMatch manages requests from USD 250,000 per programme or project; smaller requests are saved and pointed to free tools.
Regulations by destination
Each market sets its own eligibility, documents and checks for frozen shrimp. Summaries below link to the official source; confirm current requirements with the authority and your customs broker.
Official pages last checked 23 October 2026. General orientation, not legal or import advice; rules change.
European Union
- The exporting country must be authorised for the product, and the producing establishment must be on the EU list of authorised non-EU establishments.
- The importer pre-notifies each consignment at the border control post with a CHED-P in TRACES; documentary, identity and physical checks follow.
- The consignment travels with the official health certificate model for the product, signed by the exporting country's competent authority.
- A catch certificate under the IUU Regulation is required for wild-caught shrimp; farmed shrimp obtained from larvae or post-larvae is outside its scope.
- Frozen fishery products must be kept at not more than −18 °C in all parts of the product (Regulation 853/2004).
Official sources
- EU entry conditions (European Commission)
- EU lists of authorised non-EU establishments
- TRACES (European Commission)
- IUU Regulation FAQ, May 2023 (European Commission)
- Regulation (EC) 853/2004 (EUR-Lex)
Country guides: European Union
Spain
- Spain applies the EU rules above. The importer, directly or through a customs representative, pre-notifies the consignment to the official control service at a Spanish border control post using the CHED-P in TRACES NT.
- Check that the border control post you will use is listed for your product category.
Official sources
- Spanish Ministry of Health: border control posts for products for human consumption
- Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: import requirements for fishery and aquaculture products (Oct 2025)
Country guides: Spain
United States
- There is no EU-style list of approved foreign plants: foreign facilities register with FDA, processors must meet FDA seafood HACCP (21 CFR Part 123), and importers must verify that their suppliers comply.
- FDA Prior Notice must be submitted and confirmed before arrival — at least 8 hours before arrival by water, 4 hours by air.
- Shrimp is covered by NOAA's Seafood Import Monitoring Program: harvest and landing data are reported at entry and the importer of record keeps chain-of-custody records and holds an International Fisheries Trade Permit.
Official sources
- 21 CFR Part 123 — fish and fishery products (eCFR)
- FDA Prior Notice of imported foods
- NOAA Seafood Import Monitoring Program
Country guides: United States
China
- The overseas producer must be registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) after recommendation by its own competent authority (Decree 248, in force since 1 January 2022).
- The Chinese registration number, or the number approved by the producer's own authority, must be marked on inner and outer packaging.
- An official certificate agreed between the two countries' authorities may be required; check the current bilateral requirement with your Chinese importer.
- China was the largest frozen shrimp importer in 2024; much of the product is processed or re-exported, so state whether yours is for domestic sale or processing.
Official sources
Country guides: China
Japan
- The importer submits an import notification under the Food Sanitation Act (Article 27) to the quarantine station for the port of clearance; inspectors may sample for residues and additives.
- Whether an official certificate is needed depends on the product and origin; confirm with the quarantine station before shipping.
Official sources
Country guides: Japan
Norway
- Norway is in the European Economic Area: EU veterinary and food-safety legislation applies there through the EEA Agreement, so EU-type certificates and border checks apply to fishery products from outside the EEA.
- Controls are carried out by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet).
Official sources
- EFTA: agriculture, fisheries and food safety in the EEA
- Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet)
Country guides: Norway
How a request works
- You submit a structured request; it is private and free for buyers.
- A person on the FishMatch team clarifies it, replies within one business day and identifies suppliers that may fit.
- The team coordinates supplier questions and collects comparable information and quotes.
- We help you review specifications, terms, volumes, documents, logistics and risks.
- You decide; the team coordinates the next steps.
FishMatch is not the producer, seller, importer of record, inspection laboratory, customs broker or carrier, and does not guarantee supply, quality, compliance or approvals. Supplier checks are document and profile reviews, not on-site audits. Supplier communication goes through the FishMatch team.
Request frozen shrimp offers
Free for buyers. A person reviews your request and replies within one business day; supplier quote timing is never promised.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes two frozen shrimp offers comparable?
- The same species, form, count basis, glaze percentage, net or gross weight basis, Incoterm, currency and validity date. Offers that differ on any of these are not like-for-like.
- Is farmed shrimp subject to the EU catch certificate?
- No. The IUU catch certificate applies to wild-caught fishery products; aquaculture products obtained from fry or larvae are outside its scope. The health certificate and establishment listing still apply.
- Does an EU-listed plant mean it can supply frozen shrimp to my market?
- Not by itself. EU lists cover fishery products in general, not species, and other markets have their own registrations. Check the plant's approval number for your destination and product.
- Does FishMatch sell shrimp?
- No. FishMatch is a free, human-reviewed sourcing service for buyers. It does not hold inventory, import, sell or guarantee supply.