CBP has posted updates from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding the Certification of Admissibility (COA).
NMFS has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the renewal of the COA form. The new form, approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0651, will remain valid until July 31, 2028 and is available on the NMFS website: Certification of Admissibility Form
Effective November 3, 2025, all imports subject to a COA must be accompanied by the updated form.
In addition, NMFS has issued an updated list of designated officials from the Government of Mexico authorized to sign COAs for certain seafood products imported into the United States. The updated list is available here: Government of Mexico – Designated Officials for COA Signatures
Previous guidance from Mexico’s Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA) allowed for centralized COA validation in cases where no authorized validating official was assigned in the Mexican state where the COA was issued. CONAPESCA has updated its protocols with the addition of the designated officials for the states of Baja California and Sonora. As a result, COAs must now be signed by the local authorized official.
Please note that entries from Mexico are inadmissible if using a designated HTS code not accompanied by a valid COA. The current list of applicable HTS codes is available here: FY25 – Mexico MMPA HTS Codes
For full details, please refer to the following CBP CSMS messages:
For additional guidance on the COA and its requirements, please refer to: NOAA Certification Admissibility Procedures