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FDA Wants New Labeling System to Prevent Re-entry of Refused Food Imports

At this time, a shipment of food from another country that is denied entry into the United States must be sent back or destroyed but this isn’t always the outcome.  There are no current means of identifying rejected shipments and many owners and consignees of such shipments merely forward these shipments to another US port in the hope that entry will be granted there instead, a practice called port shopping.

To enhance the safety of the nation’s food supply, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposal on September 18 that will strengthen the rules governing refused shipments of imported foods.  The proposed labeling requirements are expected to complement the authorities granted by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which empowers the FDA with enhanced authority to safeguard the country’s food supply.

If the proposed regulations come into law, all shipping containers that carry foods barred from entry into the US must bear a label, in clear and conspicuous print, that reads:  “UNITED STATES:  REFUSED ENTRY.”  All written documentation, including bills of lading and invoices, and all electronic documents associated with the refused shipment must be clearly identified with a label stating the shipment was refused.

After publication in the Federal Register, the FDA will collect public and industry comment regarding the proposed labeling regulation for a period of 75 days before moving forward with this proposal.

Source: FDA

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