FDAImports.com recently achieved another success, this time helping a client obtain removal from FDA Import Alert 53-17.  This particular Import Alert, “Detention Without Physical Examination of Cosmetics Due To Microbiological Contamination,” affects over 50 International manufacturers and distributors of cosmetic products, especially products that come packaged in a kit or contain a variety of cosmetic products in one sellable unit.  In this case, a Chinese manufacturer was placed on the Import Alert Red List due to a labeling error that failed … READ MORE

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Can you slime American twice?  You can try, according to Jim Avila and ABC News.  Attempting to re-create its journalistic success from the “pink slime” story, ABC News recently ran a short segment on foreign shrimp and antibiotics, claiming that, in a recent random sampling, trace levels of 3 banned antibiotics were found in imported shrimp.  The story, reported by ABC’s Jim Avila (who also reported on “Pink Slime” this year), states that the majority of shrimp consumed in the United States “is raised in … READ MORE

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Americans consume an incredible amount of imported foods. For shrimp, over 90% of what we consume is imported, for produce, 35%, and some estimates claim that 20% of the total U.S. food supply is imported.1  Whether it’s caviar or truffles or bananas or cookies, we love our food choices, in season and out, and would be devastated if our imported food supplies suddenly dried up.  Yet whenever there is a food safety scare (E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, antibiotics), some Americans are quick to turn on “foreign foods” … READ MORE

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FDAImports.com achieved a major victory this month, making life easier for importers of pacifiers. The Automated Broker Interface utilized for making entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection was originally set-up to force importers to notify and submit information to FDA every time they brought in pacifiers. Only one problem: FDA has jurisdiction over pacifiers–which become a medical device–only when they are intended for teething.

This ABI setup, which forced an FDA submission, often caused FDA to hold the pacifiers under the mistaken belief the pacifiers … READ MORE

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We’d like to take a moment to introduce one of our partners here at FDAImports.com, the Global Food Safety Forum (GFSF), a 501(c)(3) focused on establishing dialogue, training, and private-public collaboration in all areas of food safety, imports and the food supply chain.  Founded and managed by GIC Group President/CEO and Chairman of GFSF, Rick Gilmore, GFSF creates key opportunities between the U.S. and China such as training events, workshops, delegation visits, consulting services, and research projects. We … READ MORE

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The demand for organic products is on the rise, despite higher prices, according to a recent report from the TABS Group, Inc. The Annual Organic Product Study for 2011 showed an estimated 15-20% growth in sales for organics products, for both foods and cosmetics. The research showed that consumers 40 and under purchase more organic products than older consumers, even though the younger demographic has less disposable income to absorb the higher price points commanded by organic products. This trend indicates sales in organic goods are … READ MORE

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FDAImports.com and ExportToUsa.com.cn Founder and CEO, Benjamin England, was recently invited to join the China International Aquatic Products Network as an official expert resource for FDA regulation and imports to the United States.  In this capacity he will assist CIAPN and its members with FDA compliance issues, specifically, seafood and aquaculture compliance. CIAPN is sponsored by the China Aquatic Processing and Marketing Association, which serves Chinese seafood manufacturers and producers.

CIAPN has also published research and articles from FDAImports.com and ExportToUsa.com.cn on a variety of FDA compliance and … READ MORE

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FDAImports.com Founder and CEO, Benjamin England, recently spoke at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Annual Conference on the Food Safety Modernization Act and imports.  During the presentation, “How FSMA Changed the Game on Imports,” Mr. England discussed, along with leading FDA lawyers and industry and FDA officials, elements related to FSMA affecting imported foods and international trade, including the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP), various challenges to the international supply … READ MORE

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If you remember only one thing about FDA-related legal matters involving imported products it should be this:  Even if FDA issues a “final” FDA refusal on a legal matter, it is still possible to 1) prove that the FDA got it wrong, and 2) convince FDA to reverse itself.

For instance, in late 2011 FDA detained multiple shipments of children’s medicine being imported by a multi-national drug company.  FDA alleged that the drugs appeared to be misbranded and unapproved. Eventually FDA refused all of the shipments. FDAImports.com reviewed … READ MORE

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