The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released detailed data on 72 seafood import rejections in December, 2.8 percent of which were shrimp products because they contained banned antibiotics. In addition, the FDA also released previously unreported seafood import rejections in November, including three rejections of shrimp products due to drug residues.

Throughout the period through 2022, the FDA has rejected 60 imports of shrimp products containing banned antibiotics. Although the number is not as high as the total for the same period in 2021, it is also the third highest in six years.

about half (15) of antibiotic-related import refusals (29) in 2022 come from shrimp products from India. In the last year’s import data of shrimp products, 11 were rejected due to antibiotics, 11 were from Thailand, 10 were from Bangladesh, 3 were from Vietnam, 3 were from Hong Kong, 2 were from Malaysia, 1 was from Mexico, and 1 was from China.

Of the five shrimp imports rejected in November and December, two were from Indian exporters:

•Albys Agro Pvt. Ltd. (India), whose shrimp shipments have been listed on import alert 16-129 ("Detention of Seafood Products Without Physical Inspection Due to Nitrofurans") since June 3, 2022, One of them was rejected by Southwest Customs on December 20, 2022 because of drug residues.

•Falcon Marine Exports Ltd. (India), currently not listed on import alerts 16-124 (“Detention of Aquatic Seafood Products Without Physical Inspection Due to Unapproved Drugs”), import alert 16-127 ("Crustacean Detention Without Physical Inspection Due to Chloramphenicol") or import alert 16-129 ("Seafood Detained Without Physical Inspection Due to Nitrofurans"). On November 29, 2022, the company was rejected by the West Coast Customs for importing three shrimps due to drug residues. On December 8, 2022, the West Coast Customs rejected the company's import of another shrimp because of drug residues.