IA#16-66 -----03/10/95, Attachment "A" - 9/30/02, Attachment B- 3/10/95

SUBJ:     "Automatic Detention of Shark and Tuna for Methyl Mercury"

TYPE OF ALERT :     Automatic Detention

PRODUCT  ***  :     Shark and Tuna, all edible species, fresh or frozen,
                    filets and steaks.

PRODUCT CODE  :     16A[][]35 - Shark
                    16A[][]45 - Tuna
HARMONIZED/
CODE          :     0302, 0303, 0304

PROBLEM       :     Methyl Mercury (HMHG)

COUNTRY       :     See Attachment

MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER       :     See Attachment

MANUFACTURER
SHIPPER I.D.# :     N/A

IMPORTER'S
I.D.#         :     N/A

CHARGE        :     "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
                    Section 801(a)(3), in that it appears to contain a poisonous
                    or deleterious substance, excessive levels of mercury, which
                    may render it injurious to health [Adulteration, Section
                    402(a)(1)]."

RECOMMENDING
OFFICE        :     JFK-RP (HFR-NE1515)
                    MIA-RP (HFR-SE20)

REASON FOR
ALERT         :     Based on new data on the consumption of shark and the
                    toxicity of methyl mercury, CFSAN toxicologists have
                    re-evaluated their previous positon and now can support
                    regulatory action against shark containing methyl mercury
                    residues in excess of 1 ppm.  Recent samples of shark from
                    Ecuador, Mexico, and Venezuela have been found to contain
                    residues of methyl mercury exceeding 1ppm.

            ***     Further, CFSAN has also supported recommendation of
                    automatic detention of tuna found to contain residue levels
                    of methyl mercury exceeding 1 ppm.

INSTRUCTIONS  :     Automatically detain all entries of shark and tuna from the
                    packers/shippers listed on the Attachments.  Note that only
                    the specific species of shark listed on Attachment A, e.g.,
                    Mako shark, is subject to automatic detention.

            ***     Attachment A lists firms whose shipments of shark are
                    subject to automatic detention.  Attachment B lists the
                    firms whose shipments of tuna are subject to automatic
                    detention.

FOI             :   No purging required.

KEYWORDS        :   Shark, Methyl Mercury, Mako, Thresher, Tuna, Mercury

PREPARED BY     :   Linda Wisniowski, DIOP, 301-443-6553.

                   Attachment A to Import Alert #16-66      9/30/02
    Packers/Shippers Subject to Detention Without Physical Examination

SHARK:
                        BAHAMAS (BS, 180)

     Paradise Fisheries Ltd.                 Shark Meat
     74 Mt. Royal Avenue                     (2/10/94)
     P.O. Box N-10788
     Nassau, Bahamas
     MID #BSPARFIS1078NAS

     Nassau Highliner One Limited            Fresh Shark Meat
     P. O. Box N8969                         (1/12/94)
     Nassau, Bahamas
     MID# BSNASHIG8969NAS

                        CHILE (CL, 275)

     Sociedad Commercial SBS Ltda.           Mako Shark
     (Seven Blue Seas)                       (4/24/92)
     Avenida Americo Norte 1650
     San Antonio, Chile
     MID# CLSOCOCM1650SAN

                        COSTA RICA (CR, 295)

     Coopementicillos Division Pesca         Thresher Shark
     San Jose, Costa Rica
     MID# CRCOODIVSAN

     Exgo S. A.                              Mako Shark
     San Jose, Costa Rica                    (12/31/91)
     MID# CREXGSASAN

    Exportadora Frumar S.A.             Black Tip
    Apartado 671-4550                   Shark
    Alajuela, Costa Rica             8/5/96
    MID# CREXPFRU6714ALA

     Industrias Martec S.A.                  Mako Shark
     Apartado 20                             (4/8/92)
     Quepos, Costa Rica
     MID# CRINDMAR20COS


 *** Pesca Palmare S.A.                      Frozen Shark Meat
     San Jose, Costa Rica                    (3/10/95)
     MID# CRPESPALSAN
















                         ECUADOR (EC, 325)



    Commercial Santana Cedeno               Thresher Shark
     Manta, Ecuador
     MID# EDCOMSANMAN

    Ecuafresco, S.A.                    Mako Shark Loin
    Calle 113                        1/14/95
    Manta, Ecuador
    MID# ECECUSA113MAN

    Empacadora Del Litoral                  Thresher Shark
     Somar C. Ltda.                          (3/16/92)
     Guayaquil, Ecuador
     MID# ECEMPDELGUA

     Frigolab San Mateo Cia, Ltda            Fresh Thresher
     Manta, Ecuador                          Shark
     MID# ECFRISANMAN                        (2/5/93)

     Pefresman Cia Ltda                      Thresher Shark
     Calle 113, Ave 103
     Manta, Ecuador
     MID# ECPEFCIA113MAN

    Phillips Seafood of Ecuador, C.A    Fresh Thresher Shark
    Km. 9.5 Via a Daule              7/25/01
    Guayaquil, Ecuador
    FEI #3001319367

     Promarpasa S. A.                        Thresher Shark
     Guayaquil, Ecuador                      (12/31/91)
     MID# ECPROSAGUA

                        GUATEMALA (GT, 415)

     Distribuidora Libra                     Salted Shark Fillets
     1 Calle 4-40 Zona 3                     (Misdeclared on FDA 701 as
     Guatemala City, Guatemala               dried shark fins)
     MID# GTDISLIB440GUA                     (3/16/92)

                        MEXICO (MX, 595)

     Atunera Intercontinental S.A.           Mako Shark
     Calle 62 No. 304 X37 Y65
     Merida Yucatan, Mexico
     MID# MXATUINT304MER

                        URUGUAY (UY, 930)

 *** Trymmur Ltda.                           Mako Shark
     Edificio Torre Libertad                 (Misdeclared as whitefish
     Plaza Cagancha 1335                     refer to Import Alert #16-04)
     Esc. 311-312                            (3/10/95)
     Motevideo, Uruguay
     MID# UYTRYLTD1335MON

                        VENEZUELA (VE, 940)

    Antonio Oteiza                   Mako Shark
    2001 Calle Princiap El Moro         5/8/97
    Puerto Santo, Venezuela
    FEI# 1000157803
    MID# VEANTOTE2001PUE

     Trinker Pesquera C.A.                   Mako Shark
     Caracas, Venezuela
     MID# VETRIPESCAR



                  Attachment B to Import Alert #16-66    3/10/95

                 Packers/Shippers Subject to Automatic Detention

TUNA: