Foreign Supplier Program Violations
The Food and Drug Administration continues to issue warning letters to importers concerning noncompliance with requirements under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program, which requires importers to perform certain risk-based activities to verify that the human and/or animal food they import has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards.
Most recently, FDA inspections of the facilities of three separate importers found that they did not (1) develop, maintain, and follow the required plans for red sugar palm fruit in syrup, macapuno string in syrup preserves, and garlic-flavored mixed nut snacks imported from the Philippines, (2) conduct a hazard analysis for enoki mushroom imported from South Korea and teriyaki kimnori roasted seaweed snack, and (3) develop, maintain, and follow the required plans for tomato sauce, refried red beans, and grape soft drink.
In each case, the FDA states that within 15 working days the importer should provide information on the specific things it is doing to correct these violations; e.g., documentation of changes made and records to demonstrate implementation of an FSVP. If the importer does not act promptly the FDA may take further action, such as refusing admission of violative products and subjecting them to detention without physical examination.
For more information on the FSVP, please contact Domenic Veneziano at (202) 734-3939.
Import Alerts on Foods, Drugs, and Medical Devices
Food and Drug Administration import alerts on the following have been modified in the past week.
- filtering facepiece respirators
- medical instruments from Pakistan
- raw and cooked shrimp from India
- fresh produce that appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions
- cantaloupes from Mexico
- food products that appear to be misbranded
- dried fruits
- electronic nicotine delivery systems lacking premarket authorization
- foods containing illegal and/or undeclared colors
- fresh cilantro from the state of Puebla, Mexico
- dried fungus (mushrooms) from Hong Kong and China
For more information on import alerts and other FDA issues, please contact Domenic Veneziano at (202) 734-3939.
Importers of FDA-regulated goods are responsible for ensuring that such imports are in compliance with FDA laws and regulations. Before shipping into the U.S., importers should be aware of whether or not their product is listed on an import alert.
Import alerts inform FDA field staff that the agency has enough evidence or other information to allow a product that appears to be in violation of FDA laws and regulations to be detained without physical examination at the time of entry. Import alerts may cover products from designated countries or areas (including from all foreign countries), manufacturers, or shippers.
Firms and/or products on the “red list” of an import alert are subject to DWPE, while firms and/or products on the “green list” are not because they have met the criteria for exclusion. Some import alerts include a “yellow list” of firms, products, and/or countries subject to intensified surveillance because the nature of the violations may warrant further field examinations of individual entries and/or additional analyses. In addition, depending on the specific import alert, shipments of products subject to DWPE may still be imported into the U.S. if the importer has demonstrated that the shipment is in compliance.
If a product is detained without physical examination the importer has the right to provide evidence to the FDA in an attempt to overcome the appearance of the violation. If no such evidence is submitted, or if the evidence provided is insufficient, the product will be subject to refusal of entry into the U.S.
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