UN 1180 — Frozen Snapper: Species, Size & Evidence Behind Acceptance

Ordering “snapper” does not establish which species, size or source will meet the contract. Technical sourcing, quality assurance, logistics and contract administration must connect the product requirement to evidence that identifies the goods being delivered.

This companion explains the supplied UNSTD-COM 1180, Edition 05, dated 1 April 2024, alongside the reviewed GEN documents. For an actual purchase, use the editions incorporated into the tender or contract and its written amendments. This is a selected explanation, not a replacement for the complete specification.

Four entries: preserve the contractual wording

The description specifies whole, eviscerated, head-on fish and names four species entries. The first two use the printed genus spelling Lutjunus; the explanatory scientific spelling is Lutjanus. The third entry is agennes, as printed. Keep the original wording in the compliance record and document the explanation separately. Resolve ambiguity in writing; do not silently amend a contractual requirement or assume that other snappers are interchangeable.

A common name, photograph or supplier declaration alone may not resolve identity. Reconcile the scientific name across the offer, source documentation, label and inspection record. Where identity remains uncertain, seek appropriate verification, including suitable laboratory identification when warranted.

Fish size, pack weight and remaining warranty

• Individual fish size: 50–70 cm. This is the length range for each fish.
• Primary-pack net weight: 2–5 kg. This is the net weight of the primary package, not an individual-fish weight range.
• Glazed product: declared net contents exclude the glaze. Reconcile the declared quantity with the applicable verification method and inspection evidence.
• Frozen storage and transport: −18°C to −25°C. The product is kept deep frozen after freezing and must be free from signs of thawing and refreezing. Link monitoring records to the relevant lot and journey.
• Warranty at delivery location: minimum four months. This is a delivery requirement, not the total factory shelf life. Allow for production age, transport, storage and possible holds when planning delivery.

Packaging must protect sanitary integrity and withstand transport and handling. Check the full COM sheet for its microbiological, chemical, physical and packaging criteria; meeting length or weight alone does not demonstrate acceptance.

Connect COM 1180 to GEN-01–04

• GEN-01 — Contaminants: determine the applicable contaminant limits and evidence. Catch area, species and source conditions inform the scope; do not substitute a generic certificate for relevant analytical evidence.
• GEN-02 — Labelling: reconcile species identity, wild-caught or farmed indication where appropriate, source details, lot/date information, net contents, storage instructions and applicable allergen and ingredient declarations. Primary and secondary labels must not contradict the shipment records.
• GEN-03 — Inspection and laboratory testing: connect the product risk and establishment classification to the required inspection scope, frequency and timing. Frozen raw fish is a high-risk product in the reviewed document.
• GEN-04 — Certification and source qualification: identify the actual packer and farmer/fisherman, their roles and the applicable evidence. A trader’s certificate does not by itself validate every upstream source.

In the reviewed GEN-03, Supplier Package A includes microbiological analysis for each consignment; the physical, chemical, contaminant and quality scope follows the risk-based frequency. Contractor Package B provides independent re-inspection at the prescribed frequency before inventory booking, loading or shipment. A high-risk product from a Level 4 establishment requires comprehensive laboratory analyses for each shipment. Apply the full governing provisions rather than treating this summary as a sampling plan.

GEN-04 Package 6: Packer + Farmer/Fisherman

GEN-04 Annex C maps COM 1180 to Package 6. The packer follows §4.9, with registration, certification, food-safety-system and audit evidence appropriate to the establishment classification and activity. The farmer or fisherman is a distinct evidence requirement; record both roles even when activities are combined.

For a fisherman, the reviewed text lists MSC OR CoC OR RFM OR GSA OR an official fisherman licence from the competent authority of the country or region of origin. These are alternative evidence routes, not a requirement to collect every scheme. Check the precise document, holder, scope and validity against the incorporated GEN-04 edition.

Farmer documentation depends on the establishment level: applicable competent-authority licence or approval, accepted aquaculture/food-safety certification and, where specified, export approval or laboratory evidence. Use the Package 6 table and §4.9 together; the companion guide explains the level-specific distinctions.

For wild-caught fish, the reviewed Package 6 bases establishment inspection classification on the packer’s country of origin, while contaminant laboratory scope is based on the FAO catch area. Do not confuse catch area with processing or dispatch country.

Build a consignment evidence file

• Catch and identity: scientific species, wild/farmed status, FAO catch area where relevant, fisherman/farmer identity and applicable source documents.
• Processing and source: presentation, packer/establishment identity, processing and freezing records, source qualification and certificates within their scope and validity.
• Lot traceability: link source and production lots to labels, packing lists, laboratory samples, certificates and shipment records.
• Cold chain: temperature records for storage, loading, transport and receipt, with documented assessment of any deviation.
• Inspection: measurement and net-content evidence, product condition, sampling and laboratory reports, inspector identity and the acceptance or hold decision.
• Supporting certificates: relevant official health/sanitary and origin documentation, plus destination-specific requirements where applicable. Reconcile identifiers and quantities rather than simply collecting documents.

Assign an owner and a review point to each requirement. Resolve missing or contradictory evidence before release; the presence of a document does not prove that its content matches the consignment.

What the Codex model certificate does—and does not do

Codex CXG 48-2004, Model Certificate for Fish and Fishery Products (PDF), identified as CAC/GL 48-2004 in the COM sheet, provides a model for official or officially recognised certification in international trade. It connects consignment details—species, processing, packaging, lot, net weight, temperatures, establishment, destination and transport—with an authorised attestation.

It supports assurance about food safety, wholesomeness and conformity with importing-country food-production requirements. Its stated scope excludes animal and plant health matters. The model is not a certificate issued by Codex, and a blank or supplier-completed template is not an official attestation. It does not independently prove every UN requirement: fish size, delivery warranty, source qualification and the required testing still need their own evidence. Confirm the certificate accepted by the relevant authorities and contract.

Source basis and further reading

Based on the supplied UNSTD-COM 1180 ED05 (1 April 2024); GEN-01 Contaminants ED02; GEN-02 Product Labelling ED05; GEN-03 Inspection ED05* (25 October 2024); GEN-04 Certification ED05* (15 November 2024); and Codex CXG 48-2004. The approved procurement guide records the source sections and additional references. See also the UN public food-rations standards access point. Contract-incorporated editions and written amendments govern an actual purchase.

Independent educational commentary by José Paulo Viana / JPV NEXA. No UN affiliation or endorsement is implied. This article is not an official interpretation, supplier approval, certificate or guarantee of acceptance.