Product classification
HS code for Chilled plaice: 0302.22
Fish, fresh or chilled, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99.
Classification of chilled plaice under HS 0302.22
Chilled plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is classified under HS code 0302.22. This code is situated within Chapter 3 (Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates) and heading 0302, which covers fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304. The classification follows a hierarchical structure: first by the state of the fish (fresh/chilled), then by the family (flat fish), and finally by the specific species. Plaice is a flat fish, and subheading 0302.22 is specifically allocated to this species. To qualify for this code, the fish must be whole or headed and gutted, but it must not be filleted. Chilling implies that the fish has been cooled to a temperature approaching 0°C, typically using ice or refrigerated seawater, to preserve its biological characteristics. This classification is vital for monitoring fishing quotas and ensuring compliance with maritime trade regulations regarding specific North Atlantic flat fish species.
- Covers
- Whole fresh plaice on ice
- Chilled plaice, gutted and headed
- Fresh plaice with skin on, whole
- Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) transported in refrigerated containers
- Round plaice, fresh, not frozen
- Also under 0302.22
- Parlevliet & Van der Plas
- Cornelis Vrolijk
- UK Seafish
- Danish Fishermen's Producer Organisation
Codes often confused with 0302.22
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for chilled plaice is HS code 0304.43, which covers fresh or chilled fillets of flat fish. If the plaice has been processed into fillets, it must be moved to heading 0304. Another error is using 0303.32, which is the code for frozen plaice. Additionally, other flat fish such as Halibut (0302.21) or Sole (0302.23) are often confused with plaice, but the HS system requires species-specific identification at the six-digit level for these commercially significant fish.
Top exporters and importers of HS 030222 (the code used for chilled plaice), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 030222 (the code used for chilled plaice) in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 37% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 47% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 030222, not only chilled plaice.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Netherlands $26M 37% of world exports
- 2 Iceland $17M 23% of world exports
- 3 Denmark $12M 17% of world exports
World total: $71M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $28M 47% of world imports
- 2 Denmark $9.5M 16% of world imports
- 3 Germany $4.3M 7.2% of world imports
World total: $61M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for chilled plaice
Brazil classifies chilled plaice under NCM 0302.22.00: HS 0302.22 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chilled plaice
What is the HS code for Chilled plaice?
The HS code for Chilled plaice is 030222 (Fish; fresh or chilled, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99). The HS code for chilled plaice is 0302.22, specifically for the species Pleuronectes platessa in a fresh or chilled state.
How do I classify Chilled plaice for customs?
Chilled plaice is classified under HS code 030222 — Fish; fresh or chilled, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does 0302.22 include plaice fillets?
No, plaice fillets are classified under heading 0304. HS code 0302.22 is only for whole fish or fish that has been headed and gutted.
Which countries are the top exporters of chilled plaice (HS 030222)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 030222 (the code used for chilled plaice) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($26M, 37% of world exports), Iceland ($17M) and Denmark ($12M). World exports came to about $71M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of chilled plaice (HS 030222)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 030222 (the code used for chilled plaice) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($28M, 47% of world imports), Denmark ($9.5M) and Germany ($4.3M). World imports came to about $61M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Chilled plaice the same in all countries?
The base HS code 030222 for Chilled plaice is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for chilled plaice in Brazil?
In Brazil, chilled plaice (HS 030222) is classified under NCM 0302.22.00.