0304.83 - Flat fish (Pleuronectidae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae, and Citharidae):

This HTS category, 0304.83, specifically covers fish fillets and other fish meat, whether or not minced, that are fresh, chilled, or frozen, belonging to the flatfish families Pleuronectidae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Scophthalmidae, and Citharidae. This includes a variety of commercially important flatfish such as sole, flounder, halibut (though specific types might have their own subheadings), turbot, and brill. The classification is focused on the meat of these fish, prepared in a way that distinguishes them from whole fish or other preparations.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 0304.83 focuses solely on flatfish. For instance, it is separate from 0304.81 which classifies salmon species, 0304.82 which covers trout, and 0304.84 which is dedicated to swordfish. Each sibling category is defined by the specific species or group of fish from which the meat is derived, whereas 0304.83 is defined by the *type* of fish (flatfish) and the associated families.

The subcategories within 0304.83, namely 0304.83.10 and 0304.83.50, provide further refinement based on processing and packaging. 0304.83.10 addresses specially prepared frozen blocks of flatfish, exceeding 4.5 kg, intended for further processing like mincing or cutting into uniform pieces. The residual category, 0304.83.50, encompasses all other frozen flatfish meat and fillets not meeting the specific criteria of the first subheading, ensuring comprehensive coverage within this flatfish classification.