Export & quality assurance
Export Documentation and Quality Assurance
Premium marine products are only as good as the evidence behind them. Our quality framework covers supplier approval, lot traceability, grading, pre-shipment inspection, laboratory testing on request and complete export documentation, with legal sourcing as a non-negotiable starting point.
Compliance statement
What we commit to on every order
- Product availability, species, documentation and export eligibility vary by destination market, and are confirmed before we quote.
- Species and origin are declared on every offer, and lots are traceable to harvest area or farm and processor.
- We do not trade protected species, and regulated products are supplied only with valid permits and only where their trade is lawful.
- We describe products by specification and culinary use, and make no health claims.
Our framework
Four stages of quality control
Quality is built in at origin, not inspected in at the destination port.
- 01
Supplier approval
Processing partners are reviewed for drying and freezing practice, sanitation, record-keeping and their eligibility to export to the markets we serve.
- 02
Traceability by lot
Each lot carries its species, origin (FAO area, farm region or swiftlet house), processor and production date through to the shipping documents.
- 03
Grading & inspection
Lots are graded to the agreed specification and inspected before packing; reference packs from the approved lot are retained.
- 04
Documentation
Export documents are prepared for your destination and checked against the shipment before goods leave the origin warehouse.
Pre-shipment inspection
What we check before goods leave origin
Results and photographs of the actual lot are shared with you before loading.
| Check | What we look at | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Species & origin | Scientific name and origin match the offer and documents | All products |
| Grade, count & size | Piece count, weight per piece, diameter or length against specification | All graded products |
| Dryness & moisture | Feel, snap and weight checks; laboratory moisture on request | Dried products |
| Foreign matter | Sand and grit, shell fragments, feathers and impurities | Shellfish, sea cucumber, bird’s nest |
| Appearance & odor | Color, surface bloom, breakage, rancidity and off-odors | Dried products |
| Temperature & glaze | Core temperature, glaze declaration and net weight | Frozen and chilled products |
| Packing & labels | Pack integrity, label content, lot code and dates, carton marks | All shipments |
Laboratory testing on request
Independent testing is arranged per lot against the limits of your destination market. Typical parameters:
- Microbiology (e.g. total plate count, E. coli, Salmonella)
- Heavy metals (e.g. lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic arsenic for seaweed)
- Moisture and water activity
- Additive residues where relevant, e.g. sulfites, nitrite in bird’s nest, aluminum in jellyfish
- Marine biotoxins for bivalve shellfish
- Iodine for seaweed and kelp
Packing, cold chain & logistics
- Frozen goods in reefer containers at −18 °C or colder, with set-point records and optional data loggers.
- Chilled and live products by air freight, packed for the planned transit time.
- Dried goods moisture-protected in lined cartons, palletized and, where needed, shipped in ventilated or temperature-controlled containers through humid routes.
- Loading photographs and seal numbers shared before departure.
Export documentation
Documents prepared for your destination
Requirements differ by product and market and change over time. We confirm the document set with you, and your customs broker, before shipment.
| Document | Purpose | Typically required |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | Describe the goods, values, weights and packing | Every shipment |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Contract of carriage and title document | Every shipment |
| Certificate of origin | Confirms country of origin; may support preferential tariffs | Most destinations |
| Health certificate | Issued by the exporting country’s competent authority | Most food imports of animal origin |
| Catch certificate | Confirms legal capture of wild-caught fishery products | For example, under EU IUU rules |
| CITES permit | Authorizes trade in CITES-listed species | Listed sea cucumbers, sturgeon caviar and other listed species |
| Certificate of analysis | Laboratory results for the agreed parameters | On request, or where the destination requires |
Legal sourcing
Regulated products
Several products in our range are subject to international or national controls. Some sea cucumber species and all sturgeon caviar are CITES-listed and travel only with valid CITES permits. Fish fins are offered only where their trade is lawful and fully documented, and never to jurisdictions that prohibit it. Bird’s nest and live abalone are subject to animal-health and facility-registration rules that vary widely between importing countries.
For these products we confirm species identity, origin, permits and destination eligibility before quoting, and we decline business that cannot be documented lawfully from origin to destination. See the individual product pages, for example dried sea cucumber, premium roe and caviar and edible bird’s nest, for product-specific notes.
FAQ
Quality & export questions
Which laboratories do you use for testing?
We use independent, accredited third-party laboratories in the origin country, and can use a laboratory nominated by the buyer. Test parameters and limits are agreed before testing so the results are meaningful for your destination market.
Can you ship to any country?
No. Eligibility depends on the product, species, origin, processing facility and destination. Some markets require registered facilities or specific health certification, and some products cannot be traded into certain markets at all. We confirm eligibility before quoting.
Do you arrange pre-shipment inspection by a third party?
Yes. Buyers can appoint an inspection company, or we can arrange one, to inspect quantity, grade and packing before loading. Inspection costs and scope are agreed in advance.
Do you make health or nutrition claims for your products?
No. Our product information describes origin, specification, processing and culinary use. Any claims made on retail packs sold in your market are the responsibility of the brand owner, under that market’s regulations.
Trade inquiries
Check documentation for your market
Tell us the products, grades and destination you have in mind. An export specialist will reply within one business day with availability, specifications and a formal quotation.