FDA Threatens to Block Seafood Imports from Companies in Chile, India and El Salvador
The Food and Drug Administration threatened to refuse imports from seafood processors in Chile, India, and El Salvador, in three recent warning letters sent by the agency. According to the letters, FDA found violations of seafood hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) requirements in facilities owned by Comercial Comtesa of Chile (here), Parayil Food Products of India (here), and Acpetamar of El Salvador (here). The agency’s inspection of Parayil also turned up violations of FDA’s emergency permit control and acidified food regulations, it said.
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Because of the HACCP violations, Comtesa’s frozen vacuum-packaged wild caught centolla (king) and centollon (queen or snow) crabmeat products, Parayil’s frozen fish and shelf-stable dried and picked fish products, and Acpetamar’s “fish products” are adulterated under FDA regulations, the agency said.
Once the companies bring their facilities into compliance, FDA will reinspect the facilities to make sure, its said. Because the violations are related to food safety, FDA told the companies it will assess fees to cover the costs of the reinspection. The agency suggested the companies provide a copy of the letter to their U.S. agents that will be liable for the reinspection fees.