What temperature must frozen cod fillets be stored at?

Frozen cod fillets must be kept at -18 °C or colder throughout storage, transport and distribution to preserve quality.

What is the allowable histamine limit for frozen cod fillets?

The product must not contain more than 10 mg of histamine per 100 g of fish, based on the average of the sample unit tested.

Frozen Cod Fillets

Frozen cod fillets are quick‑frozen slices of cod removed parallel to the backbone, intended for direct human consumption without further processing. They are kept at -18 °C or colder to preserve quality during transport, storage and distribution.

Prices, specifications and international trade for frozen cod fillets under HS 030471.

Frozen Cod Fillets Price

$13,958USD/t

Published reference · Jul 1, 2026

Frozen Cod Fillets Historical Unit Values

Frozen cod fillets is quoted in USD/t at CHN. Historical customs values may differ from the headline reference.

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Frozen Cod Fillets Exports and Imports

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Iceland led reported frozen cod fillets exports in 2025, at $411M.

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Frozen Cod Fillets Specifications and Quality

Frozen cod fillets grading factors include Appearance, Odor, and Histamine level.

Grading Factors

Quality assessment for frozen cod fillets considers Appearance, Odor, and Histamine level.

Appearance
Visual assessment of colour, surface integrity and absence of dehydration or oxidation.
Odor
Sensory check for off‑odours that indicate spoilage.
Histamine level
Measurement of histamine to ensure it does not exceed the Codex limit for safety.
Glazing water quality
Verification that water used for glazing meets potable or clean seawater standards.

Common Defects

Recorded defects for frozen cod fillets include Pin‑bone presence, Excess histamine, and Microbial contamination.

Pin‑bone presence
Residual pin‑bones that remain after boning, causing consumer rejection.
Excess histamine
Histamine concentrations above 10 mg/100 g (or 20 mg/100 g for certain families) indicating spoilage.
Microbial contamination
Presence of pathogenic microorganisms that breach food‑safety criteria.
Oxidation / dehydration
Quality loss caused by exposure to air or improper packaging leading to off‑flavours.

Frozen Cod Fillets Facts and HS Code

Frozen cod fillets belongs to seafood within protein and dairy. Its customs classification covers HS 030471.

Frozen Cod Fillets HS Code

Scientific name	Gadus morhua
Product type	Intermediate
Form	Frozen
Position in the chain	Primary
Category	Seafood — Protein and dairy
HS codes	030471
Quoted in	USD/t
Reference location	CHN

Production & Handling

Frozen cod fillets storage guidance: Stored at -18 °C or colder and kept deep frozen throughout handling to maintain quality.

Production and Storage

Perishability	High
Temperature regime	Deep frozen
Storage conditions	Stored at -18 °C or colder and kept deep frozen throughout handling to maintain quality.
Processing steps	Capture (wild capture) Cleaning and gutting Filleting (parallel cuts to backbone) Quick freezing (temperature to -18 °C or colder) Optional glazing with potable or clean seawater Packaging into blocks or individual packs

Packaging

Typical frozen cod fillets packaging includes Quick‑frozen blocks and Individual frozen packs.

Quick‑frozen blocks
Uniformly shaped frozen masses of fillets packed to minimise dehydration and oxidation.
Individual frozen packs
Portion‑size packs that keep fillets isolated and protected during distribution.

Uses & Risks

Frozen cod fillets is used in Direct consumption.

End Uses

Direct consumption
Sold to retailers or food‑service outlets for cooking and eating without further processing.

Sourcing risks

Risk	Category	Severity	Mitigation
Microbial contamination Food safetyHigh Pathogenic bacteria can survive if the product is not kept at the required frozen temperature.	Food safety	High	Maintain continuous deep‑freezing at -18 °C or colder and follow HACCP‑based hygiene controls.
Temperature abuse LogisticsHigh Breaks in the cold chain can raise product temperature above -18 °C, degrading quality.	Logistics	High	Monitor temperature throughout transport and store in deep‑freezers with alarm systems.
Excess histamine Food safetyMedium Histamine may accumulate in fish that has not been rapidly chilled, exceeding safety limits.	Food safety	Medium	Implement rapid quick‑freezing and test histamine levels on representative samples.

Frozen Cod Fillets Questions

What temperature must frozen cod fillets be stored at?: Frozen cod fillets must be kept at -18 °C or colder throughout storage, transport and distribution to preserve quality.
What is the allowable histamine limit for frozen cod fillets?: The product must not contain more than 10 mg of histamine per 100 g of fish, based on the average of the sample unit tested.