IA #23-02, REVISED 12/20/96 - IMPORT ALERT #23-02 "DETENTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF MELON SEEDS, ATT
ACHMENTS A - 4/6/04, ATTACHMENT C & ATTACHMENT B - 6/6/03
NOTE: This alert is being revised to reflect updated information. Additional changes are bracketed by asterisk
s(***).
TYPE OF ALERT: **Detention Without Physical Examination** and Guidance
PRODUCT : Melon seeds
PRODUCT CODE : 23K[][]05
PROBLEM : Aflatoxin (PSAM)
Color (UCNC)
Filth (FLNF, FLRF, FLAF)
COUNTRY : Sudan (SD, 835)
PROC (CN, 280)
Hong Kong (HK, 435)
Thailand (TH, 875)
MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER : Various
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 "AFLATOXIN," a
poisonous and deleterious substance, which may ordinarily
render it injurious to health." [Adulteration, Section
402(a)(1)]
or
"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to bear or contain a color
additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 706(a)."
[Adulteration, Section 402(c)]
or
"The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to consist in whole or in
part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is
otherwise unfit for food, in that in contains insect, rodent,
animal or other filth." [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(3)]
RECOMMENDING
OFFICE : New York District (HFR-NE152)
REASON FOR
ALERT : Melon seeds from the Sudan have been on ***Detention Without
Physical Examination since 1982 due to violative levels of
alfatoxin. Shipments continue to be offered for entry, and
refused, due to the presence of aflatoxin.
In March 1991, New York Regional Laboratory analyzed two
products, dried melon seeds and black melon seeds, offered for
entry from Thailand. Both samples were found to contain
violative levels of aflatoxin.
*** Red melon seeds from Hong Kong and the PROC have been on
detention Without Physical Examination*** since 1982 due to the
presence of illegal colors. We continue to find non-permitted
colors in products shipped from Hong Kong, and the Peoples
Republic of China. Colors detected include FD&C; Red #2, D&C;
Red #11, D&C; Orange #4, and Ponceau 4R.
In addition, during FY 91, ten entries of all types of melon
seeds were found to contain rodent or insect filth using AOAC,
15th ed., 950.86, 1990. These detentions include various
shippers from the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Jordan
and Lebanon.
CHI-DO recently detained a shipment of watermelon seeds from
Walid and Khaled Eyayan, Amman, Jordan. The invoices for the
product certified that the goods listed were of the origin of
Jordan and local market purchase. A wharf exam revealed that
the product was originally shipped from China to Jordan, before
sale and shipment to the U.S.
The specific manufacturer/shipper from China could not be
identified. Districts should be aware of misdeclaration of
country on these products.
GUIDANCE: ***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of the
specified melon seed products offered for entry from those
firms listed in Attachment A due to the presence of aflatoxin.
***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of red
melon seeds offered for entry from those countries identified
in Attachment B due to the presence of illegal color additives.
***Shippers exempted from the requirements of this import are
listed in Attachment "C"***
Coverage of all types of melon seed products for aflatoxin,
color additives and filth, as appropriate, is indicated.
FOI : No purging is required.
KEYWORDS : Aflatoxin, colors, filth, dried melon seeds, black melon
seeds, red melon seeds, watermelon seeds
PREPARED BY : Jack Geltman, SDWG, DIOP, HFC-172, (301)443-6553
DATE LOADED
INTO FIARS : December 20, 1996
Attachment A to Import Alert #23-02 4/6/04
Melon Seeds on ***Detention Without Physical Examination for Aflatoxin***
Packer/Shipper Product
All firms from the Sudan Melon Seeds
Lam Bao Bao Melon Seeds Contains non-permitted
4C2 Dong An 7 23K[][]05 Rhodamine B (CI 45170
Vietnam 4/6/04 D&C; Red No. 19)
FEI #3004409389 And non-permitted acid
Orange 7 (CI 15510,
D&C; Orange No.4)
Lang Derm Exporters Dried Melon Seeds
Bangkok, Thailand
Kwang Yak Joo Ltd. Black Melon Seeds
Bangkok, Thailand
Kub Moyo Enterprises Nig Ltd. Melon Seeds, Edible
P.O. Box 2751, Apapa Lagos
Nigeria
FEI #3002840977Attachment B to Import Alert #23-02 6/6/03
Melon Seeds on ***Detention Without Physical Examination ***Due to
Non-Permitted Colors
Packer/Shipper Product
All firms from PROC Red Melon Seeds
All firms from Hong Kong Red Melon Seeds
IRAN (IR)
Rojar Corp. Watermelon Seeds Fast Crimson GR
23K[][]05
11/20/01 Ponceau 4R
Manufacturer:
597 Khayam Street
Teheran, Iran
FEI #3003315479
Shipping:
46 Amir Atabak Avenue, Suite 2
Teheran, Iran
FEI #3003118491
Fast Crimson GR (C.I. 18050, formerly certifiable as Ext. D&C; Red #11) is not permitted in or on food products
MACAU (MO)
Manufacturer: Black Melon Seeds Undeclared
Not Known, 23K[][]05 Tartrazine
Labeled as Product of China 6/18/01
Shipper:
Ka Wo Trading Co., Ltd.
1 STMO Ferreira Do Amural, Rua
Va Tai, No. 12 R/C
Macau
FEI #3003297032
Tartrazine is certifiable as FD&C; Yellow No.5. This color additive is not permitted unless it comes from an F
DA-certified batch.
TAIWAN (TW)
Ging Ta Fong Co., Ltd Green Tea Melon Seeds Tartrazine
No. 63, Da Fong Rd. 23K[][]05 Brilliant Blue FCF
Sec. 3, Da Li Hsien 10/2/01
Taichung, Taiwan
FEI #3002927100
VIETNAM (VN, 945)
Gia Minh Co., Ltd. Melon Seeds Rhodamine B
B3/10A, Route 1A 23K[][]05
Binh Chanh Dist. 02/27/01
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
FEI #3002895097
Rhodamine B is formerly certifiable as D&C; Red No. 19. This color additive is not permitted in foods.
Golden Ocean Enterprises Co., Ltd Melon Seeds Rhodamine B
28/21 A Cach Mang Thang Tam St. 23K[][]05
Tan Binh District 4/13/01 Orange II;
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam a color additive
FEI #3000161134 resembling
Ponceau 4R
Lucky Shing Enterprise Co., Ltd Melon Seeds Rhodamine B
579 Quoc Lo An Loc Village 23K[][]05
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 4/13/01
FEI #3001757812
Rhodamine B (C.I. 45170, formerly certifiable as D&C; Red No. 19) is not permitted on food products.
Nam Phong Trd. Co. Melon Seeds Rhodamine B
Aka Doanh Nghiep Tu Nhan 23K- -05
Thuong Mai Nam Phong (mfg site) 6/6/03
6 to 11 Flat E. Binh Phu Road
Dist. 6
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
FEI #3003346407
Sunimex Co. Red melon seeds D&C; Red #19
71-79 Dong Khoi Street, Dist 1 6/3/97 6/4/97
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
FEI# 1000499532
Viet Nam Food Industries Company Melon Seeds Azorubine
6/18 Cach Mang Thang 8 St. 23K- - 05
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 3/25/02
3000191305
**Attachment C to Import Alert #23-02 October 23, 1997
List of Shippers/Manufacturers Exempt From Detention Withour Physical
Examination
Packer/Shipper Product Problem
Agrisales Limited Melon Seeds Aflatoxin
Royal Oak House 23K[][]05
45A Porchester Road
London
United Kingdom
FEI #1000175025
MID #GBAGRLIM45LON***
(OFFICE)
Leading Star Trading Co. Red Melon Seeds
Rm 1703 Wayson Commercial 23K[][]05
Building 10/23/97
28 Connaught Rd. West
Hong Kong
FEI #3000257007
(FACTORY)
Leading Star Trading Co.
42 Hebin Road
Daze, Xinhui,
Guangdong, China (Mainland)
FEI #3001121960
Limited to melons seed shipments from Sudan.