0303.31.00 - Halibut and Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, Hippoglossus stenolepis)

This HTS category, 0303.31.00, encompasses frozen fish belonging to the flat fish family, specifically excluding fillets and other fish meat classified under heading 0304. The primary species covered are halibut and Greenland turbot. These are large, commercially important flat fish, distinguished by their distinctive body shape and often their size. Classification within this heading requires the fish to be presented whole or in pieces, but not processed into fillets or other meat preparations.

To understand the scope of 0303.31.00, it is important to distinguish it from its sibling categories. While this subheading focuses on halibut and Greenland turbot, adjacent subheadings within 0303.30 cover other specific types of flat fish. For instance, 0303.32.00.00 classifies plaice, 0303.33.00.00 covers sole, and 0303.34.00.00 is dedicated to turbots. The general "Other" category at 0303.39.01 serves as a catch-all for flat fish not otherwise specified.

Further refinement within this halibut and Greenland turbot category is achieved through its subcategories, which break down the classification by specific species. Subheadings 0303.31.00.10, 0303.31.00.20, and 0303.31.00.30 distinguish between Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), and Greenland turbot (also known as Greenland halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) respectively. This granular division allows for precise identification and statistical tracking based on the exact species of frozen flat fish imported or exported.