Import Alert
An FDA enforcement tool that allows detention without physical examination of imported food products that appear to violate U.S. law.
What It Means
An import alert is an enforcement tool used by the FDA to inform its field staff and the importing community that the agency has sufficient evidence or other information to detain, without physical examination, products from specific companies, countries, or regions that appear to be in violation of U.S. food safety laws. Import alerts are a critical component of the FDA's oversight of imported food, which accounts for approximately 15 percent of the U.S. food supply (and higher percentages for specific categories such as seafood, fresh fruits, and spices). When an import alert is issued, FDA field offices can automatically detain shipments matching the alert criteria at the port of entry. The importer must then demonstrate that the product complies with U.S. law before it will be released. Import alerts can be issued based on a variety of concerns including Salmonella or Listeria contamination history, pesticide residue violations, filth contamination, unapproved food additives or color additives, labeling violations, and failure to comply with FSMA requirements. The FDA maintains a publicly searchable database of active import alerts on its website. Import alerts can target individual firms, specific products from a country, or all products of a type from a geographic region. Under FSMA's Foreign Supplier Verification Program, importers are required to verify that their foreign suppliers meet U.S. food safety standards, and failure to do so can result in import alerts and other enforcement actions.
Related Terms
FDA Food Recall
A voluntary or mandatory action by a firm to remove a food product from the market when it may be unsafe or mislabeled.
Adulteration
When a food product contains an unsafe substance, was processed under unsanitary conditions, or otherwise violates FDA safety standards.
FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act)
The landmark 2011 law that shifted FDA food regulation from reacting to contamination to preventing it.
FDA Warning Letter
An official communication from the FDA notifying a company of significant regulatory violations found during inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Import Alert mean?
An FDA enforcement tool that allows detention without physical examination of imported food products that appear to violate U.S. law.
Why is Import Alert important for food safety?
An import alert is an enforcement tool used by the FDA to inform its field staff and the importing community that the agency has sufficient evidence or other information to detain, without physical examination, products from specific companies, countries, or regions that appear to be in violation of...