FDA Updates Import Alert 71-04 for Salmonella Contaminated Animal Feeds

On April 1, 2010, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) updated Import Alert #71-04 by placing three additional firms on the “Red List”, which subjects them to “Detention Without Physical Examination Of Animal Feeds, Other Than Pet Treats, Due To The Presence Of Salmonella” (“IA #71-04”). FDA enforces all foreign and domestic animal feeds, pet foods and pet toys. “These recent enforcement actions occurred due to surveillance by FDA’s SWID [Southwest Import District], which found Salmonella in products made from sheep meat.” stated Benjamin L. England, of FDAImports.com, LLC, “Congress drafted the FDCA (Food Drug and Cosmetic Act) to regulate pet food almost the same as human food for a reason. Americans love their pets and this puts political pressure on FDA to give attention to imported pet food safety.”

In 2009 nearly two dozen animal feed firms were placed on the IA #71-04 Red List for attempting to import products contaminated with salmonella. FDA places foreign firms on IA #71-04 if FDA regional labs find Salmonella contaminated products in imported shipments; often a firm will be placed on the Alert for only one such violation. Once on the Alert, FDA detains the firm’s shipments at the Port or Border automatically, no questions asked. In order to get off IA 71-04, a firm must provide documentation to FDA in the form of a petition that they found the source of contamination and corrected the problem. In some cases FDA finds multiple products from the same foreign processor contaminated with Salmonella. Then, FDA requires the foreign firm to export 12 consecutive clean shipments. “Some firms will lose a great deal of profit margin to storage fees, delays and lab costs,” stated Mr. England, “…but the future costs to reputation may be even greater. This includes not only reputation with buyers, but also with the FDA. Getting off this alert, as soon as possible, should be a high priority for any firm.”

Congress increased FDA’s appropriation 19% in 2010. Part of the increase has been devoted to animal & human food safety. According to Mr. England, “A double digit increase in budget means Congress is serious about food and drug enforcement. That means greater scrutiny at Ports of Entry…placing firms on an import alert is an efficient enforcement tool for FDA. Once they find a violation, they don’t have to inspect…they just detain everything from that firm.”

If you have been placed on IA #71-04, currently have entries alleged to contain Salmonella, or would like to avoid the problem before it occurs, let FDAImports.com, LLC show you ‘the way through.” FDAImports.com, LLC is a consulting firm that specializes in assisting foreign and domestic companies comply with FDA regulations. FDAImports.com, LLC can also guide you through the process of getting your firm off Import Alert 71-04. Don’t let one violation damage your business reputation or career. FDAImports.com, LLC knows ‘the way through’ the FDA barriers to the U.S. market. FDAImports.com advises all companies and their officers, who are faced with one of the above mentioned circumstances, or who wisely desire to avoid such business problems before they arise, to contact them promptly for advice regarding your situation.