Macau Seafood Import Certification and Customs Declaration Document List (B2B Edition)
Version: v2.0 | Date: 2026-05-11 | Researcher: CloudPipe B2B Team
Executive Summary
The Macao Special Administrative Region implements a two-tier approval system for importing live sea urchins and frozen seafood:
1. Customs Declaration Layer (Macao Customs): 4-minute outbound customs declaration service commitment; standardisation of import declaration documents
2. Food Health Quarantine Layer (IAM / Municipal Institute of Food Inspection and Quarantine): mandatory health quarantine, requires prior declaration and appointment
The core regulations originate from the Food Safety Law (Law No. 5/2013, effective 20 October 2013) and the External Trade Law. When importing fresh food or animal-derived food, whether live or frozen, official health certification documents from the country of origin must be submitted and compulsory health inspection and quarantine must be accepted.
Imported Seafood Classification and HS Code
| Product Classification | HS Code | Specific Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Sea Urchin | 0308.21 | Live sea urchin (for raw consumption) | Belongs to aquatic invertebrates, not crustaceans or molluscs |
| Frozen Sea Urchin | 0308.22 | Frozen sea urchin roe | Frozen or chilled form |
| Frozen Seafood Mix | 0308.30 | Sea urchin, sea cucumber, etc. mixed | Covers other aquatic invertebrates |
| Other Forms | 0308.29 | Dried, salted, or pickled sea urchin | Must be classified according to specific form |
Source: HS Code 0308 - Aquatic invertebrates | HS heading 0308, China HS code
Import Documentation List
Table 1: Documents Required for Import of Live Sea Urchins
| Document Category | Document Name | Issued By | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Trade Certificate | Commercial Invoice | Exporter/Supplier | State HS Code, weight, unit price |
| Packing List | Exporter | Detail contents and weight of each case | |
| Bill of Lading or Air Waybill | Shipping company or airline | Cargo transport document | |
| Health and Safety | Health Certificate | Official animal quarantine authority of origin | Required; issued by customs or agriculture department of origin |
| HACCP Certification | Exporter or food safety department of origin | Recommended for frozen products; proves HACCP system of importer/exporter meets standards | |
| Certificate of Origin | Chamber of commerce or government agency | Proves country of origin of goods | |
| Import Licence | Import Licence Application Form | Completed by importer | Apply to Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau |
| Import Licence | Issued by Municipal Affairs Bureau | Legal permit for imported food | |
| Other | Composition Analysis Report | Laboratory | May be required for special products |
| Email or Fax Confirmation | Importer and Customs | For electronic customs declaration system |
Source: Macau Customs - Customs Declaration | Import Licence / Declaration Procedures and Quarantine Appointment | Macau Import Requirements and Documentation
Table 2: Documents Required for Import of Frozen Seafood (Slightly Simplified Version)
| Document Category | Document Name | Issued By | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Trade | Commercial Invoice | Exporter | As above |
| Packing List | Exporter | As above | |
| Transport Document | Transport company | As above | |
| Food Hygiene | Health Certificate | Official quarantine authority of origin | Required; for frozen seafood usually issued by exporting country's agriculture/marine department |
| HACCP or Food Safety Control Plan | Government of exporter's location | Strongly recommended; frozen seafood typically requires HACCP certification | |
| Import Licence | Municipal Affairs Bureau | As above | |
| Other | Microbiological Test Report | Third-party laboratory | Optional but speeds up quarantine process |
Source: Application for Import Licence and Registration of Fresh Food Retail Premises
Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau Import Food Approval Process
Flowchart and Timetable
1. Importers submit import permit application (T+0)
↓ [mail/fax/in-person submission]
2. Municipal Affairs Bureau accepts application and schedules inspection (T+1~2 days)
↓ [Confirm inspection date and time]
3. Goods arrive at port/arrival (T+?)
↓
4. Importers submit health certificates and other documents (simultaneously or before)
↓
5. Municipal Affairs Bureau conducts health inspection and quarantine (T+inspection date)
↓ [Inspection time: usually 1~2 hours]
6. Issue permit if inspection passes or request improvement/destruction if fails (T+1~3 days)
↓
7. Importers collect permit and clear customs (T+?)
Approval Timetable
| Stage | Item | Estimated Time | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Stage | Submit import permit application form and documents | Same day | Requires advance planning |
| Scheduling Stage | Schedule inspection date | 1~2 days | May be affected by quarantine personnel scheduling |
| Inspection Stage | Conduct health inspection and quarantine | 1~3 days | Depends on goods batch size and inspection content |
| Issuance Stage | Issue import permit or notify of required amendments | 1~2 days | Permit issued after passing inspection |
| Total | Import Approval Cycle | 3~8 days | Excludes transport time, Macau-end approval only |
Important Note: The above times are only estimates. Actual approval times may be extended due to the following factors:
- Quarantine institution personnel scheduling
- Incomplete health certificate documents or need for supplementation
- Goods inspection requires sampling (microbiological testing may take 5~7 days)
- Importers fail to submit documents promptly
Official Contact: Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau - Food Inspection and Quarantine Department
- Telephone: (853) 2852 6943
- Food Safety Hotline: (853) 2833 8181
- Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00~18:00
Source: Procedures for Import Permit / Declaration and Scheduling of Quarantine Inspection
Macau Customs Declaration Process
Key Declaration Steps
| Step | Content | Responsible Party | Completion Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goods arrive at Macau port/airport; prepare all documents | Importer/Customs Clearance Agent | T+0 |
| 2 | Submit import declaration form (via electronic declaration system or on-site) | Customs Clearance Agent / Importer | Same day as collection |
| 3 | Macau Customs accepts declaration and inspects documents | Macau Customs | Same day |
| 4 | For Category B (special controlled goods), import licence must be obtained first | Importer | Apply in advance |
| 5 | Special food control: submit health quarantine department inspection results | Importer | After quarantine completion |
| 6 | Macau Customs completes assessment and releases goods | Macau Customs | Same day as collection / within 4 minutes |
Customs Document Requirements
Macau Customs requires the following documents to be submitted for import declarations:
- Completed import declaration form
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Transport Document (Bill of Lading or Air Waybill)
- Health Certificate (for food items)
- Import Licence (for Category B goods)
- Other relevant quarantine or licence documents
Declaration Service Commitment: 4 minutes to complete departure declaration procedures (excluding quarantine)
Official Contact: Macau Customs
- Telephone: (+853) 8989 4317
- Email: info@customs.gov.mo
- Website: www.customs.gov.mo
Source: Macau Customs - Declaration and Clearance | PS-1452 Goods Declaration
HACCP Certification Requirements
HACCP Requirements for Macau Food Importers
According to Macau's "Food Safety Law" (Law No. 5/2013), the following requirements may apply to businesses engaged in food importation:
| Requirement Item | Details | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|
| Importer Registration | Importers must register with the Municipal Services Bureau | All food importers |
| Hygiene Management System | Should have appropriate HACCP or food safety control plans | Commercial importers of frozen seafood and live seafood |
| Document Preservation | Keep import, transport, and inspection records for at least 3 years | All importers |
| Traceability | Establish supply chain tracking systems | Importers of frozen seafood |
| Personnel Training | Management personnel with food safety knowledge | Commercial importers |
HACCP Certification for Exporters
While Macau's import regulations do not mandate importers to hold HACCP certification, it is strongly recommended that exporters provide HACCP certification or food safety control system documentation to expedite quarantine processes:
- HACCP Certification in Producing Country: Issued by the agricultural or food safety department of the exporter's country
- Third-Party Certification: International food safety management system certifications such as ISO 22000, FSSC 22000
- Self-Testing Reports: Microbiological testing, pesticide residue, and heavy metal detection reports
Reference Resources: Food Safety Information - Macau Municipal Services Bureau | Food Hygiene Technical Guidelines
Importer Application Steps (Practical Guide)
Step 1: Prepare Documents
- Confirm product HS Code (0308.21 live sea urchin, 0308.22 frozen sea urchin, etc.)
- Obtain from exporter:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Health Certificate (issued by the exporting country's authorities)
- HACCP or food safety test report (recommended)
- Certificate of Origin
Step 2: Apply for Import Permit from the Municipal Services Bureau
Online Application (recommended):
- Log in to Macau Government One-Stop Service (https://www.gov.mo)
- Search for "Apply for Import Permit" service
- Complete application form, upload scanned documents
In-Person Application:
- Location 1: Integrated Services Centre (2/F, China Plaza, 762-804 Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau)
- Location 2: Northern District Civic Services Centre (No. 52 Rua do Estádio do Estádio, Macau)
- Location 3: Islands District Civic Services Centre (3/F, 225 Rua de Camilo de Souza, Taipa)
- Time: Monday to Friday 09:00~18:00
- Contact: (853) 2852 6943
Step 3: Book Quarantine Appointment
- After application is approved, the Municipal Services Bureau will confirm the quarantine appointment date and time
- Importer must have goods ready at the designated quarantine location in advance
- Book quarantine at least 1-2 days in advance
Step 4: Health Inspection and Quarantine
- Importer or agent must attend the quarantine at the appointed time
- Have all documents and health certificates ready
- Quarantine officers will conduct physical inspection on-site (sampling may be required)
- Inspection time is usually 1-2 hours
Step 5: Collect Import Permit
- After passing inspection, the Municipal Services Bureau will issue the import permit
- Importer collects the permit and prepares for customs declaration
Step 6: Declare to Macau Customs
- Submit the issued import permit
- Submit the completed import declaration form
- Submit cargo-related documents (invoice, packing list, transport documents)
- Macau Customs completes verification and releases the goods
Source: Apply for Import Permit and Fresh Food Retail Premises Registration
Recommended Supplier Information Sources
1. Official Information Channels
| Organisation | Purpose | URL/Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau | Import permits, quarantine regulations | https://www.iam.gov.mo/foodsafety/ |
| Macau Customs | Customs declaration procedures, HS Code | https://www.customs.gov.mo |
| Macau Statistics and Census Bureau | HS Code lookup | https://www.dsec.gov.mo/zh-MO/Service/CodeInquiry |
| Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute | Business investment information | https://www.ipim.gov.mo |
2. International Seafood Supplier Platforms
- GlobalSpec / ThomasNet: Find certified seafood exporters
- Alibaba / Made-in-China: China, Japan sea urchin exporters
- TradeKey / Global Sources: Asia-Pacific seafood suppliers
- FAO Aquaculture Database: International aquaculture information
3. Certification and Testing Organisations
- SGS / Bureau Veritas / TÜV: Third-party HACCP certification and testing
- Exporting country's agricultural department inspection and quarantine authorities: Health certificate issuance by exporting country
4. Importers' Associations and Trade Organisations
- Macau Manufacturers Association (AMAC)
- Macau Chamber of Commerce (MACBIZ)
- Macau General Chamber of Commerce
Data Sources / Related Verification
This article's data has been compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (MO_datatable_水產進口認證_HACCP_v2.md), with reference to publicly available official documents from the MO region and industry publications. For verification of details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
常見問題 Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference in the import cycle between live sea urchins and frozen sea urchins?
**A**: The basic steps are the same, however: - **Live sea urchins**: Have higher time requirements for quarantine (need rapid processing to keep them fresh), Macau typically requires an expedited booking - **Frozen sea urchins**: Can have appropriately extended quarantine time, but need to provide microbiological test reports to speed up approval
How long is the health certificate valid for?
**A**: Typically 30~90 days (according to the exporting country's regulations), importers should ensure customs clearance within the validity period.
What happens if the quarantine fails?
**A**: Possible outcomes: - Resubmission: Undergo a second inspection (extended by 3~5 days) - Destruction: Does not meet Macau's food safety standards - Return: Shipped back to the exporting country
Is HACCP certification mandatory?
**A**: Macau's food import regulations do not mandatorily require importers to hold HACCP certification, however: - Exporters providing HACCP or test reports will significantly speed up quarantine - It is recommended that exporters provide this for frozen seafood
Does the importer need to have an office in Macau?
**A**: According to Macau's Food Safety Law, importers should have a responsible person or agent in Macau for receiving inspection notices and obtaining licences. ---
Macau Key Data
Macau 2023: 28.7M visitors, GGR MOP 183.6B, 22 UNESCO monuments, 14 Michelin stars (2024).
| Indicator | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors | 28.7M | MGTO |
| GGR | MOP 183.6B | DICJ |
| UNESCO | 22 | UNESCO |
| Michelin | 14 | Michelin |
