Imports/Exports

FDA Highlights Successful Mexico-U.S. Effort to Eliminate Salmonella Outbreaks from Papayas

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

No U.S. Salmonella outbreaks linked to Mexican papayas have been identified since 2020 thanks to collaborative efforts between regulators and industry in both countries. The case study could serve as a framework for improving food safety in other commodities and global supply chains.

UK-EU Trade Agreement Would Harmonize Certain Food Safety Rules by Mid-2027

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:52:41 -0400

UK businesses will be required to align with relevant EU regulatory requirements within the scope of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, regardless of whether they export to the EU or sell only to the UK market.

EU Increases Import Controls for the Ingredient Behind Global Infant Formula Recall

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:45:43 -0500

Arachidonic acid oil (AHA oil) from a Chinese supplier was identified as the source of cereulide toxin contamination in infant formula produced by Nestlé and other well-known brands. Imports of Chinese AHA oil are now subject to stricter EU border checks.

EU Launches Task Force on Food Safety Import Controls

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:39:21 -0500

The European Commission has established a task force to strengthen food safety controls for food imports, building upon a broader set of measures announced in December.

Global Seafood Trade Increases Dietary Exposure to PFAS Worldwide, Study Finds

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

An international study has shown that European seafood is high in PFAS, and that fish exports expose consumers in regions of the world with otherwise low levels of pollution to harmful “forever chemicals.”

EU to Increase Audits of Agri-Food Importers by 50 Percent Over Next Two Years

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:59:18 -0500

The European Commission has announced several new measures to significantly expand and strengthen its controls for food and feed products entering the EU, including increased audits in third countries and at EU borders, additional checks for frequently non-compliant countries and commodities, a dedicated task force, and other changes.

Canada Requires Salmonella Testing for Iranian Pistachios as 155 Outbreak Cases Confirmed

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:02:11 -0500

As of December 2, laboratory-confirmed cases in the ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios has reached 155, and CFIA now requires importers and manufacturers of Iranian pistachios to hold and test their products for Salmonella before they can be sold.

Spanish Growers Call for Tighter EU Import Controls on U.S. Nuts Due to Aflatoxins

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:28:33 -0500

The Spanish Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (Fecoam) points to recent RASFF food safety notifications about U.S. nuts demonstrating dangerous levels of aflatoxin contamination—with almonds exceeding EU maximum levels by three times in one instance—and calls for stricter import controls.

Researchers Suggest Limited Effectiveness of Increased Controls on Food Imports at EU Borders

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

A new study underscores that the level of consumer protection afforded by the food import control measures established in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 may not be proportionate to the resources invested.

TRACES Report Highlights Reasons for EU Food Import Rejections in 2024

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:16:34 -0500

The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) is the EU’s digital platform for managing sanitary, phytosanitary, and food safety certification to support the trade of regulated products.

Canada Reduces Regulatory Red Tape for Produce, Eggs

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 10:47:12 -0400

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has enacted regulatory amendments with the goal of reducing red tape regarding labeling, traceability, and imports for fresh fruit/vegetable producers and the poultry/egg industries—specifically, hatcheries.

Indonesian Officials Find Cause of Cs-137 Contamination Behind Radioactive Shrimp

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:06:20 -0400

After FDA discovered radioactive isotope Cesium-137 in shipments of shrimp and spices from Indonesia, the Indonesian government launched an investigation and discovered environmental contamination near where the shrimp processor is located. The cause of cloves contamination is not yet determined.

FDA Uses FSMA Authority to Stop Radioactive Food Imports From Indonesia

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:52:33 -0400

After discovering radioactive isotope Cesium-137 in shipments of shrimp and spices from Indonesia, FDA is exercising for the first time a power granted by Congress under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to require food safety certification for imports.

After Radioactive Shrimp Recall, FDA Detects More Cs-137 in Indonesian Spice Import

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:11:07 -0400

FDA detected radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in a shipment of Indonesian cloves, due to heightened surveillance efforts initiated after radioactive shrimp was detected in another Indonesian import. Additionally, the radioactive shrimp recall has been expanded, and now affects Walmart, Kroger, and other retailers nationwide.

UK Report Calls Illegal Meat Import Crisis ‘Biggest Threat to Food Safety’

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:18:58 -0400

A UK Government report calls attention to the increasing volume of illegally imported meat and dairy to Great Britain, which is often unsafe and unhygienic, posing foodborne illness and zoonotic disease risks. It recommends a coordinated approach to tackling illicit imports.

FDA Sampling Finds One-Third of Imported Ice-Glazed Seafood Products to be Fraudulent

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:27:43 -0400

In a testing and sampling assignment conducted from 2022–2024 to determine the prevalence of economically motivated adulteration among imported frozen seafood, FDA found that 36 percent of the samples were violative for short weighting.

Radioactive Shrimp Recall Expanded

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:57:31 -0400

Originally limited to Great Value products sold at Walmart, FDA is warning consumers not to eat or purchase imported frozen shrimp sold under five additional brand names, originating from a single distributor, due to potential radioactivity.

FDA Investigating Imported Radioactive Shrimp Sold at Walmart

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:20:57 -0400

FDA has issued a safety alert raw frozen shrimp products that tested positive for radioactive isotope Celsium-137, which were imported from Indonesia and sold at Walmart stores in 13 states. The agency recommends a recall.

Study: U.S. Seafood Imports are Capable of Spreading Resistance to Last-Resort Antibiotics

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:59:45 -0400

A new study led by the University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety has confirmed that imported seafood carries colistin resistance genes that are capable of transfer, posing the risk of this resistance gene spreading via the U.S. food supply.

FDA Changes Import Entry Review Process for Regulated Goods, Effective August 4

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:40:12 -0400

Effective August 4, 2025, FDA is changing its import entry review process for regulated goods from a geographic-based system to a national-based system. Industry must be aware of new communication protocols for the Nationalized Entry Review (NER) program.

Ep. 193. Christian Ararat: A Global Perspective on Auditing, Certifications, AI, and Beyond

Tue, 13 May 2025 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Christian Ararat, a seasoned food safety and quality professional with a global perspective, about a range of topics, including auditing, traceability, certifications, exporting to the U.S., and artificial intelligence (AI). We also hear from Joseph Corby, the recipient of Food Safety Magazine’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, about his illustrious career and advocacy work.

FSA Shares Ongoing Efforts to Modernize Meat Industry Regulation

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:41:45 -0400

In an April 25 speech, UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chief Executive Katie Pettifer described efforts FSA is taking to improve meat industry regulation, including supporting the adoption of new technologies, negotiating international trade agreements, addressing inspector and veterinarian workforce shortages, evaluating inspection charge discounts, and tackling food crime.

‘Safer Shrimp Imports Act’ Would Require FDA to Enforce Stricter Inspections for Imported Shrimp

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 13:56:58 -0500

Introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), the Senate Bill 667, named the Safer Shrimp Imports Act, would require FDA to ensure that food safety inspections for shrimp in importing countries meet standards equivalent to those upheld in the U.S.

Proposed Changes to Increased Controls for High-Risk Foods Imported Into UK

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:38:53 -0500

The UK Food Standards Agency has proposed changes to the list of high-risk imported food and feed of non-animal origin subjected to increased official controls (described in assimilated Regulation 2019/1793). A public consultation is open until April 9.

European Commission Wants to Stop Agri-Food Imports That Do Not Meet EU Production Standards

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:57:32 -0500

The European Commission has published its new Vision for Agriculture and Food. Among other objectives, the Vision communicates the Commission’s goal of more strictly enforcing EU production standards for imported agri-food products, especially related to pesticide use and animal welfare.

EU Updates List of Risky Food Imports Subjected to Increased Checks

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:03:29 -0500

The European Commission has updated its list of food imports from certain countries that are subjected to temporarily increased official controls due to contamination risk.

New Requirements for U.S. Businesses Exporting Honey to EU

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:15:19 -0500

The EU has implemented a new regulation that requires U.S. importers of apiculture products like honey to register with the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Prior to TRACES registration, businesses must complete an assessment with USDA and an application with FDA.

FDA Updates VQIP, Changes Effective Immediately

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 11:09:02 -0500

Effective immediately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revised the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) and released corresponding guidance for industry.

FDA Seeks Feedback on Certification Program for Exported Human Foods

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:53:35 -0500

To inform resourcing changes and program improvements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public input on its current approach to managing certification for the export of human food products regulated by the agency.

FDA Releases Video Detailing Requirements for Seafood Imports

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:52:14 -0400

The third video in FDA's "Importing FDA-Regulated Products" series provides an overview of the process for importing seafood, focusing on key regulatory requirements.