At least five Brazilian companies have been placed on Import Alert 99-08, “Detention Without Physical Examination Of Processed Foods for Pesticides,” in the last few weeks, as seen on the FDA’s Import Alerts database, although the database is not exhaustive in nature.
The FDA publishes a list of all its Import Alerts but does not proactively notify companies if they are put on a specific Import Alert. In this case, FDA has issued Import Alert #99-08, notifying any port of entry that shipments of companies listed on the alert can be detained without being inspected or laboratory-tested.
Deemed the ‘Red List,’ numerous companies are listed in the FDA’s database, broken down by country. Although the Import Alert is not exhaustive or binding, over 50 references to Carbendazim (MBC) are present with numerous sources.
Benjamin England, Founder and CEO of FDAImports.com, a private FDA consulting firm, said: “We routinely assist companies who have shipments detained or refused at US ports. It may come as a surprise for these companies, it may not, but the point is that FDA is issuing these Import Alerts for a non-compliance issue that is not related to food safety.”
England referenced his company’s previous work on Carbendazim and fungicide residues, which makes clear that the levels of MBC in question are far below the allowable tolerances for other popular juices and have been shown safe at the levels discovered in orange juices in recent weeks. Even Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, said: “Continue to enjoy your orange juice” in his January 19th blog post on the FDA Voice blog.
Source: FDAImports.com
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