The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently disclosed detailed data on seafood entry line refusals, highlighting a significant focus on shrimp shipments. In December, the FDA recorded 74 seafood entry line refusals, with 5.4% pertaining to shrimp and reasons related to banned antibiotics. This follows a trend observed in November, where out of fifteen seafood entry line refusals, 33.3% were attributed to shrimp and similar concerns.

2023 Year-End Recap

As the FDA wraps up its reporting for the year, the agency refused a total of 59 entry lines of shrimp in 2023 due to banned antibiotics. Notably, this marks a marginal decrease compared to the previous year, with 2022 seeing 60 entry lines refused for similar reasons.

November and December Refusals

The latest data reveals nine newly-reported entry lines of shrimp refused for banned antibiotics in November and December. The affected shipments originated from two Indian shrimp exporters, an Ecuadorian shrimp exporter, and a Thai shrimp exporter.

Calcutta Seafoods Pvt. Ltd. (India)

Calcutta Seafoods Pvt. Ltd., a company with a four-star Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, faced refusal for four entry lines on November 29, 2023. The refusal was attributed to shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans. Import Alert 16-129 was invoked on July 19, 2023, placing the company under detention without physical examination due to nitrofurans.

S.A. Exports (India)

S.A. Exports, operating under BAP certifications for two shrimp farms, experienced one entry line refusal on December 19, 2023. The reason for refusal was shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans. The company was added to Import Alert 16-129 on December 13, 2023.

COFIMAR SA (Ecuador)

COFIMAR SA, a company with a four-star BAP certification for its processing plant, faced a refusal on November 29, 2023. The refusal was related to shrimp contaminated with veterinary drug residues. Import Alert 16-124 was invoked on December 27, 2023, due to unapproved drugs.

Okeanos Food (Thailand)

Okeanos Food, operating under a four-star Best Aquaculture Practices certification, encountered three entry line refusals on December 27, 2023. The refusals were due to shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans and veterinary drug residues. Import Alert 16-129 was applied on November 27, 2023.

Additional Alert

In a separate development, on December 15, 2023, the FDA added another processing plant, Kader Exports Private Limited Unit 04, to Import Alert 16-124. This four-star BAP certified plant faced detention without physical examination due to leucomalachite green in its shrimp shipments.