issue_2_2017

48
analysis & control
SGS expertise helps to minimise import
refusals
Every day, in most countries of the world, food products are refused entry – often because of
paperwork, food safety and adulteration issues. These refusals generate costs and time delays for
food producers and others in the value chain – but they can be avoided, with expert help.
SGS is the world’s leading
inspection, verification, testing and
certification company. Its global
network of locally-based food
experts can provide the assistance
required, overcoming language
barriers and the complexity of the
inbound government’s systems.
Codex Alimentarius
The Codex Alimentarius, or ‘Food
Code’, is a collection of standards,
guidelines and codes of practice –
including maximum residue limits
(MRLs) for additives, veterinary
drugs and pesticides. Designed to
ensure that food is safe and can
be traded, the Code still hasn’t
solved the fundamental problem of
harmonisation, with countryspecific
regulations and industry
issues continuing to create
ongoing problems.
Reporting on import refusals
Some countries publish details of
all refusals and issues. For
example, the US Food and Drug
Administration (US FDA)
publishes a database with its
import refusal reports. 1 From May
2017, importers will be
encouraged to refer to this
information and assess the risk of
a product being imported into the
US from a given location, as
required by the Food Safety
Modernisation Act (FSMA).
However, due to the complexity of
the global market, this database
does not necessarily list a food
product’s country of origin, but
includes the country of the US
FDA registered company that
shipped the item. For example,
most of the refusals into the US
from the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) since 2014 have been
because rice (basmati and plain
white) had pesticide residues that
were not in compliance with US
MRLs. Since the UAE is not
considered the world’s leading
producer of rice, and many of the
UAE listings are for trading
companies, it’s safe to assume
that this rice is coming from other
locations.
Data interpretation
US FDA refusals for Vibrio since
the beginning of 2014 show that
only one item, shelled coconut, has
been refused. This issue was first
noted for products arriving from or
through India, but there have been
subsequent refusals of goods from
the Philippines and Vietnam. This
process establishes the principle
that those importing shelled
coconut into the US should test it
for Vibrio before shipping.
For the contaminant nitrofurans,
the US FDA refusal information
indicates that shrimp, prawns and
crabs are the primary products
refused because of contamination,
or suspected contamination.
Occasionally, some farm raised
fish or frog legs are also found to
be contaminated. Most nitrofurans
contamination occurs in Asia, the
www.foodmagazine.eu.com issue two | 2017