When something goes wrong with imported seafood, a customer does not need an apology — they need to know within the hour which plant, which harvest area, which production date and what the temperature was along the way. Our process exists to answer that.
We split the risk into four questions: whose product, how it was frozen, what was tested, and how it is labelled.
Before a plant enters our supplier list it must produce export registration, a third-party audit report, recent microbiological and residue testing, and a customer reference we can actually call. A plant that fails review does not get bought from, whatever the price.
Depending on species, we require suppliers to hold one or more of:
After blast freezing at origin, product is held at −18°C or below end to end. Reefers are pre-cooled and set-point logged before loading, data loggers travel with the cargo, and containers move from port straight into third-party cold storage.
The plant supplies lot-level test results before shipment. On arrival we sample against a written plan — appearance, odour, deglazed net weight, core temperature and pack integrity — and send to an independent laboratory when anything looks off.
Typical scope: pathogens, antibiotic residues where the species warrants, histamine on scombroid species, heavy metals, and harvest-area biotoxin records for bivalves.
Labels are reviewed against US requirements: market and scientific name, country of origin, farmed or wild, net weight statement, allergens, establishment number, storage conditions and thaw instructions. SIMP supply-chain data is filed for listed species and FDA Prior Notice is submitted before arrival.
Give us a carton code or lot number and we can return all of the following the same business day.
If you find an off-spec, temperature or quality issue, contact us as soon as possible after receipt and keep the original packaging and carton codes. We hold the rest of the lot first, investigate second — and we do not settle the matter by pointing at the plant.
For anything urgent, call 626-988-9808 directly.
These are the standard requirements for seafood entering the United States. Which ones apply depends on species, origin and intended use; each shipment is assessed on its own facts.
| Requirement | Applies to | Handled by |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Prior Notice | All imported food | Apex Imports |
| HACCP-based importer verification | All seafood products | Apex Imports (plant supplies its plan) |
| SIMP (Seafood Import Monitoring Program) | Listed species — certain tunas, crab, sea cucumber and others | Apex Imports |
| Customs entry and duties | All imports | Apex Imports with our customs broker |
| Health certificate / official export document | As required by the origin country | Origin plant and its competent authority |
| California Proposition 65 warning | Applicable species sold in California | Apex Imports, at label review |
Note: this page describes our process and the requirements we place on suppliers. The regulations that apply to any given shipment are as determined by our customs broker and the relevant authorities. Registration and insurance documentation is available on request.
We can send plant certifications, audit reports and sample test and temperature records for your QA team to review.