FDAImports.com recently achieved another Import Alert success for one of its clients, this time for FDA Import Alert #36-04, “Detention Without Physical Examination of Honey and Blended Syrup Due to Presence of Fluoroquinolones.” FDA implemented this Import Alert many years ago upon discovery of certain antibiotics, specifically, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin in honey products and blended syrups. The antibiotics, while permitted for use in cattle, are not permitted for honeybees as the residues can transfer into the honey and its products.
In this case, the U.S. importer contacted FDAImports.com to help remove their foreign supplier from the Import Alert by preparing a well-documented petition that addressed FDA’s specific concerns for this Import Alert. The petition from FDAImports.com was successful and FDA removed this suppler from the Import Alert, thereby alleviating the U.S. importer’s supply-chain strains.
The damage done by an FDA hold or Import Alert can be devastating for a company bringing in product to the United States. Some of these impediments include:
- Private lab testing costs
- Delays in importing, most likely a month or more
- Unpredictable timelines due to FDA workload and responsiveness
- Possible warehousing costs during the hold
However, these Import Alerts damage much more than a company’s P&L sheet, they destroy its most valuable asset: the company brand. Many companies do not even want to do business with a firm that is on FDA Import Alert. FDAImports.com helps foreign companies get off Import Alert, saving them and/or their U.S. importer thousands of dollars and countless hours in delays, damages and deadlines and helping them restore brand equity.
Get help with FDA Import Alerts here.
