A practical, box-by-box guide to completing the RCEP Certificate of Origin for Indonesian farmed frozen shrimp (HS 0306) to Japan in 2026. Includes which origin criterion to select, sample wording, minimal document checklist, validity and retrospective issuance rules, and the mistakes that trigger rejections.
If you export Indonesian farmed frozen shrimp to Japan, a clean RCEP Certificate of Origin is the difference between a smooth, duty-reduced clearance and an expensive delay. We write and audit these every week. Here’s the exact process we use in 2026, with the box-by-box details Japanese brokers expect to see.
Why the RCEP CoO matters for shrimp to Japan in 2026
Preferential duty under Japan’s RCEP schedule on HS 0306 shrimp is available if you can prove origin. By 2026 many HS 0306 subheadings land at very low or zero duty for qualifying origin. Always confirm the exact duty line in Japan’s current tariff schedule because the preferential rate depends on your 8-digit classification.
We’ve found that two things trip teams up more than anything else. Picking the wrong origin criterion and sloppy product descriptions that don’t match the HS code. Fix those and you avoid 80% of rejections.
Box-by-box form fill guide (Japan, 2026)
This follows Indonesia’s Form RCEP layout issued via the e-SKA system. Japan accepts electronic certificates and QR verification, and paper when needed.
- Exporter
- Full legal name, address, and tax ID. Use what’s on your commercial invoice. Don’t abbreviate your company name here if you don’t on the invoice.
- Producer
- If you produce in-house, repeat exporter details. If you subcontract processing, list the Indonesian processor’s full name and address. Leaving this blank invites verification requests.
- Importer
- Buyer or customs broker in Japan. Include postal code. If you truly don’t know, write “UNKNOWN”, but expect questions.
- Means of transport and route
- Vessel name, voyage, port of loading and discharge. Transshipment is fine under RCEP if goods stay under customs control. If you know there will be transit in a third country, add “Transit at [Port] under customs control. No further processing.”
- HS code (6-digit)
- For frozen shrimp and prawns use HS 0306.17 at the 6-digit level. At 8-digit in Japan, confirm with your broker. If your product is cooked or breaded, you may be in Chapter 16, not 03. Misclassification here is the fastest path to rejection.
- Marks and numbers on packages
- Put the shipping marks from your outer cartons. If you ship unmarked, write “No marks”. Don’t invent marks that don’t appear on the packing list.
- Number and kind of packages; Description of goods
- Use clear, specific wording. Example that passes broker scrutiny: “Frozen Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), PD, IQF, tail-off, 26/30 pcs/lb, moisture controlled, glazed 5%, packed 10 x 1 kg IVP, Net 10 kg per carton. Produced in Indonesia.”
- Keep species names consistent. If you ship Black Tiger, say “Penaeus monodon”. Avoid vague descriptions like “frozen shrimp product”. If you sell multiple lines, separate each as 7a, 7b with matching HS and weights below.
- Origin criterion
- For Indonesian farmed shrimp, select WO (Wholly Obtained). RCEP treats aquaculture products obtained in a Party as wholly obtained. We’ve never needed fishing vessel documents for farmed shrimp. If your raw shrimp are imported then processed in Indonesia, you cannot use WO. Use PSR via RVC 40% or the applicable CTC instead. More on that below.
- Quantity or weight
- Use net weight and units that match your invoice and packing list. We include carton count and total net kg for each line.
- Invoice number and date
- If it’s a third-country invoice, state the issuing company’s name clearly and tick the third-country invoice field if available in your e-form. Japan likes this transparency.
- Certification
- Indonesia issues RCEP CoOs through the Ministry of Trade’s e-SKA. Ensure the QR code and certificate number are legible. The signatory’s name must match the issuing authority registry.
Practical takeaways:
- Keep your 6-digit HS and your product wording in sync. Example, “breaded” triggers Chapter 16. “Raw, frozen, PD” stays in 0306.17.
- For farmed shrimp harvested in Indonesia, WO is the cleanest path. Don’t overcomplicate it with an RVC calculation unless you must.
Which HS code and wording should I use on the RCEP CoO?
Use 0306.17 for frozen shrimp and prawns at the 6-digit level. Your 8-digit Japanese code depends on product form and size. Describe the product so the HS classification is obvious. We mirror our product spec sheet for consistency. For example, for our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught), the size grade, PD/PDTO, glazing percentage and pack style all appear in the description line.
Which origin criterion should I select for Indonesian farmed shrimp?
Choose WO. Aquaculture harvests conducted in Indonesia qualify as wholly obtained under RCEP. You don’t need fishing vessel documents because you are not claiming wild-caught origin. What you do need is traceability from farm to processing lot to show the harvest occurred in Indonesia.
Edge cases:
- If any non-originating raw shrimp are imported and simply peeled, deveined and frozen in Indonesia, you cannot claim WO. In that case use the product-specific rule. For HS 0306, the typical options are RVC 40% or Change in Tariff Classification. We usually use RVC as a fallback.
Do I need vessel documents for aquaculture shrimp?
No. Provide farm harvest and movement records instead. If an officer asks for “catch cert,” clarify it’s aquaculture and provide the aquaculture registration and harvest documents.
Transport and shipment details that avoid questions
Japan enforces the non-manipulation rule. If your container transships in a third country, keep it under customs control and avoid any operation other than preserving the goods. We add a simple remark in Box 4 and keep the container seal record handy. That small note has saved us days at destination.
Supporting documents Japanese customs actually ask for
Keep a slim but solid file. In our experience, 3 out of 5 verifications are resolved with these:
- Farm documents. Aquaculture registration, harvest log with pond ID, harvest date, species and quantity.
- Raw material purchase records. Delivery notes from farm to plant and receiving log.
- Production records. Lot build sheet linking raw material lots to finished product lots, peel/devein yield, freezing date, and IQF records.
- Export paperwork. Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, Form RCEP PDF with QR, health certificate from BKIPM, and if applicable, third-country invoice notes.
- Traceability map. One-page diagram from pond to container. Optional but powerful.
If you’re unsure whether your file is enough for your specific shipment, we’re happy to review a redacted set and flag gaps. Need a quick pre-audit before you book the vessel? Contact us on whatsapp.
Invoice declaration vs paper CoO in 2026
RCEP allows an invoice declaration by an Approved Exporter. Indonesia authorizes Approved Exporters with an AE number. Japan accepts these declarations. If you have AE status, you can put the origin declaration text and your AE number directly on the invoice. If you don’t, use the e-SKA Form RCEP.
When do we prefer the invoice declaration? Repeat shipments with identical specs and stable buyers. When do we stick with a formal CoO? New buyers, complex multi-line invoices, or when a broker requests a certificate number for their system.
How long is the RCEP CoO valid, and can it be issued after shipment?
Validity. One year from the date of issuance. Your buyer must claim the preference within Japan’s import procedures during that window.
Retrospective issuance. Allowed under RCEP in defined cases. In Indonesia we can request a retrospective CoO through e-SKA with justification, typically within 12 months of export. We’ve done this when the forwarder spotted an HS typo after sailing.
Common errors that cause RCEP CoO rejections for seafood
- Wrong origin criterion ticked. Teams choose RVC when WO applies. Use WO for Indonesian farmed shrimp.
- HS code and description mismatch. Writing “cooked” or “breaded” on a 0306 CoO. That belongs in Chapter 16.
- Weight discrepancies. Net weight on CoO doesn’t match packing list after glazing deduction. Align your method and state glazing percent.
- Third-country invoicing not disclosed. If the invoice comes from a non-Indonesia entity, state it. Japanese brokers look for it.
- Missing producer information. Leaving Box 2 blank invites verification.
- Old template text. Use the current RCEP declaration wording and keep the QR-enabled e-form. Japan has tightened checks on outdated phrases over the past few months.
Quick fixes:
- Mirror invoice wording on the CoO. Update your master templates every quarter.
- Train the sales team on WO vs PSR. It prevents last-minute scrambles.
RVC fallback example for peeled deveined shrimp
If you can’t use WO, RVC 40% works for many HS 0306 lines.
- FOB price per carton: USD 100
- Value of non-originating materials (VNM): Imported raw shrimp USD 55
- RVC (build-down method) = (FOB − VNM) / FOB × 100 = (100 − 55) / 100 × 100 = 45% That clears the 40% threshold. Keep supplier invoices and your costed bill of materials to support the calculation.
Where to get the RCEP CoO issued in Indonesia
Use the Ministry of Trade’s e-SKA system for Form RCEP. Upload your invoice, packing list, and supporting docs. Approval typically takes 1–2 working days for complete files. For AE status to use invoice declarations, apply through the same authority with your compliance history and SOPs.
Resources and next steps
- Check your Japan tariff line for 0306.17. Confirm the 2026 preferential rate with your broker.
- Lock your description template. Species, processing style, size grade, pack format, glazing percent.
- Decide WO vs PSR early. For Indonesian farmed shrimp, WO is the default.
- If you want us to sanity-check your HS, description and origin criterion, send a draft. We’ll mark up what to fix and why. Or if you’re planning new SKUs alongside shrimp, you can also View our products to match your lineup with HS and description templates we already know clear smoothly.
In our experience, once you standardize your RCEP CoO template and train the team on WO for aquaculture, rejections drop to near zero. That’s when customs becomes boring, and your buyers start talking about lead times and quality instead of paperwork. Which is exactly where you want to be.