IA #20-03 REVISION - 4/3/97, IMPORT ALERT #20-03, "DETENTION WITHOUT
          PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF ***RAISINS DUE TO LEAD***" -
          ATTACHMENT A - Revised 2/20/98, ATTACHMENT B - REVISED 4/3/97

NOTE:  This alert has been reformatted to identify firms from other
countries and revise the title.  Additional changes are bracketed
by asterisks.

TYPE OF ALERT: Detention Without Physical Examination

               (Note: This import alert contains guidance to FDA
               field personnel only.  It does not establish any
               requirements, or create any rights for, or
               obligations on, FDA or regulated entities.)

PRODUCT:       Raisins (sultanas)

PRODUCT CODE:  20A[][]10
               20B[]H10

PROBLEM:       Excessive levels of lead (HMPB)

PAC FOR
COLLECTION:    04019A

***PAF:        MET (Metals in Products)***

COUNTRY:       ***See attachment***

MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER:       ***See attachment***

MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER ID:    ***See attachment***

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, lead,
               which may render it injurious to health
               [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(1)]."

RECOMMENDING
OFFICE:        Buffalo District,
               Import Operations Branch (HFR-NE350)

REASON FOR
ALERT:         In January and February, 1996, BUF-DO sampled two
               lots of Turkish sultanas, a small, yellow, seedless
               raisin, based on information received from SEA-DO.
               Lead analysis revealed levels in excess of 1 ppm in
               both samples.  Screening for lead in other
               shipments of Turkish raisins indicate lead levels
               ranging from 0.83 to 0.98 ppm.  Additionally,
               Canada's Health Protection Branch has performed
               extensive lead testing of Turkish raisins with
               results frequently  indicating lead levels of
               concern to FDA.

               FY'96 data for Turkish raisins indicates that 15 of
               22 samples analyzed for lead were found to contain
               levels in excess of 0.250 ppm.  This represents a
               violation rate of 68%.  ***In December, 1996,
               detention without physical examination was extended
               to all Turkish sultanas.***

               ***During January, 1997, BUF-DO collected a sample
               of Mexican raisins that were transshipped through
               Canada.  Analysis by NERL indicated lead levels of
               317 ppb and 270 ppb by original and check analysis
               respectively.***

GUIDANCE:      Districts may detain, without physical sampling and
               analysis, entries of raisins from the individual
               firms listed on Attachment A except for the firms
               identified in Attachment B.

               Identifying specific growers can be difficult since
               Turkish shippers frequently purchase raisins at an
               open market.

               ***Districts should submit a recommendation for
               detention without physical examination for any
               raisin shipment found to contain lead in excess of
               250 ppb.***

               For questions or issues concerning science, science
               policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation,
               or analytical methodology, contact the Division of
               Field Science at (301) 443-3320 or 3007.

PRIORITIZATION
GUIDANCE:      I

FOI:           No purging required.

KEYWORDS:      Raisins, sultanas, lead, poisonous, metals

PREPARED BY:   Ted Poplawski, DIOP, (301) 443-6553.

DATE LOADED
INTO FIARS:    April 3, 1997


               ATTACHMENT A TO IMPORT ALERT #20-03               2/20/98

  Firms recommended for detention without physical examination


                    CANADA (CA, 260)

Amazin' Raisin International                 All raisins including
77 Comeau St.                                flavored raisins
Atholville, Canada                           2/18/98
FEI# 1000601910


                        MEXICO (MX, 595)

FIRM                                         DATE

Grupo Agroindustrial Sonorense S.A.          3/27/97
Carretera a Nogales Km. 5
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
FEI# 1000279975


                        TURKEY (TR, 905)

FIRM                                    DATE

All firms from Turkey                   12/2/96
               ATTACHMENT B TO IMPORT ALERT #20-03               4/3/97

    Firms exempt from detention without physical examination

FIRM                                    DATE


There are no firms identified at this time.