Federal Register #2026-07676

Annual Certification of Shrimp-Harvesting Nations for U.S. Imports

This notice from the Department of State outlines the annual certification process for nations and fisheries eligible to export wild-caught shrimp to the United States: - Government Buyer: - Department of State - Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs - Certification covers nations and specific fisheries whose shrimp-harvesting practices meet U.S. sea turtle protection standards - Certified nations include: Argentina, the Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Russia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Hong Kong - Certified fisheries in: Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Spain - For non-certified nations, only aquaculture-harvested shrimp is eligible for import - All imports must include the DS-2031 Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration for compliance verification - Unique requirements: - Environmental compliance with sea turtle protection standards - Mandatory import documentation (DS-2031) - No OEMs, vendors, or procurement of products/services are involved; this is a regulatory determination, not a solicitation

Description

The Department of State annually certifies nations whose wild-caught shrimp and shrimp products are eligible for import into the United States based on their regulatory programs protecting sea turtles during shrimp harvesting. The 2026 certification includes a list of nations and specific fisheries that meet these environmental standards. Imports must be accompanied by the DS-2031 Shrimp Exporter's/Importer's Declaration to ensure compliance with these regulations.

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