Fish and seafood of all kinds are in high demand in the market, as consumers are accustomed to a wide variety being available regardless of their origin or season, especially since they are a source of healthy protein with numerous benefits and high nutritional value. These high expectations require traders to bring seafood products safely and quickly, ensuring their freshness and quality. Therefore, in this article, we provide glimpses into the stages fish go through during their transport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via air freight, from fishing to arrival, including transportation methods, cold chain safety, and the inspection process before export and after passing through the airport, etc.
Station One: Fishing and Preparation
Fish and seafood begin their import journey in a similar way, as fishing vessels and boats catch the targeted type of fish according to official licenses and seasonal fishing restrictions. The fish are then stored and chilled on board the vessel and may also be cleaned before reaching land. Upon arrival at the shore, the seafood is loaded into containers equipped with cooling equipment, or sent to storage, processing, and packaging facilities transported by truck.
The fish should be kept frozen at zero degrees throughout this journey, which makes it necessary to ensure a safe and organized transportation process that guarantees the fish are stored at the optimal temperature to protect them from spoilage.
Station Two: Pre-Flight Inspection
Many traders rely on air freight to import fish because it is the ideal method for importing fresh or unfrozen fish. The average air freight time for fresh fish is about two and a half days, with the possibility of stopping at one or two stations along the way, which is much less time than sea freight, which can take between 10 to 30 days or even more. During air freight, fish are kept at temperatures ranging from zero to five degrees Celsius, and regular temperature checks are conducted to ensure an ideal environment before delivery.
Before the seafood products are loaded onto the plane in preparation for their supply to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they undergo a health inspection process to ensure that the fish comply with all the Kingdom’s regulations. Samples are taken from a certain number of boxes in each shipment for testing, so that the inspection authorities at the departure airport or the processing and shipping facility can ensure that the shipment’s temperature is correct. They also measure the fat content in the products to ensure they comply with health standards.
Upon completion of this process, the inspection confirms that the seafood products are suitable for export and are of an appropriate age for fishing. Then, the required export documents and certificates are issued.
Station Three: Customs Clearance
Immediately after the pre-shipment inspection process is completed, the inspection authorities send a notification to the customs authorities at the destination airport before the shipment arrives. The purpose of this is to give priority to the shipment as it is a perishable product. In light of this, the customs authorities issue instructions to reduce the shipment’s transit time and ensure safe handling, as the process of acceptance or rejection of the fish shipment by the transit authorities may not exceed a few minutes.
This is followed by the customs clearance process at the airport, which includes inspecting samples of the seafood products for the following:
● Accuracy of shipment data.
● Signs of disease.
● Heavy metal residues.
● Freshness of the fish.
● Antibiotic levels.
In addition, the customs department at the airport inspects the necessary required documents such as:
– Certificate of Origin.
– Commercial Invoice.
– Health Certificate.
– Air Waybill.
The customs clearance process is completed within a few hours after approval for release and payment of the customs tariff, which ranges between 0% and 12%. Speed and accuracy at this stage are crucial to maintain the freshness of the fish before they settle at their final destination.
Importers resort to customs clearance companies to ensure their fish shipments are cleared quickly and smoothly, such as “Duaam Al Hudood” Customs Clearance Company, which specializes in clearing perishable products from King Abdulaziz Airport, for example, fish and all types of meat. It relies on a team of experts specialized in efficiently completing air customs clearance procedures, which ensures that its clients’ shipments are released as quickly as possible and at the lowest possible cost.
Station Four: Distribution
In this final station of the journey, fish and seafood are delivered to distributors and wholesalers who, in turn, deliver them to stores and restaurants. According to the precise planning that the fish shipment underwent during its air journey, it is expected to maintain its freshness for a period ranging from two to seven days, with regular temperature checks to ensure safe transport until the final consumer.
In conclusion, the air freight process for fish faces various challenges, most notably maintaining the appropriate temperature for the nature of these time-sensitive and unique seafood products, in addition to the importance of coordination between the various relevant parties at the export and import airports to be prepared for their passage in a short time.
It also needs to adhere to health standards to ensure the safety of fish in the local Saudi market, in addition to preparing all required documents to obtain customs approval in the shortest possible time. You can contact Border Support Company to release your fish shipment as quickly as possible, which ensures its arrival to the Saudi consumer with the highest quality and maintains your customer base.
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