The short answer
Between October 1 and November 11, 2026, FDA updated more than 50 import alerts — the lists FDA uses to detain products at the U.S. border without examination. The updates touched the FSVP alert (99-41), misbranded labels, undeclared allergens, illegal colors, canned and acidified foods, Salmonella, heavy metals, pesticides and several seafood alerts. An update usually means companies were added to or removed from an alert’s Red List.
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Why it matters
Once a company is on a Red List, every shipment it sends is held at the port until it is proven compliant — even if that particular lot is fine. Getting off the list takes evidence and, often, months.
The import alerts updated this autumn
A selection of the alerts FDA updated between October 1 and November 11, 2026 that matter most to exporters of food, cosmetics, drugs and devices:
| Alert | Updated (2026) | What it covers | Check if you export |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99-41 | Nov 9 | Food from importers not in compliance with FSVP | U.S. importers — and every exporter who sells through them |
| 99-39 | Nov 6 | Imported food that appears misbranded (labels) | All food exporters |
| 99-22 | Oct 27 | Undeclared or mislabeled major food allergens | Snacks, bakery, sauces, ready meals |
| 45-02 | Nov 6 | Foods with illegal or undeclared colors | Candy, snacks, spices, beverages |
| 99-37 / 99-38 | Oct 29 / Nov 4 | Low-acid canned and acidified foods without filed processes or with inadequate process control | Canned foods, sauces, pickles, salsas |
| 99-19 | Nov 5 | Food products with Salmonella | Spices, seeds, nuts, botanicals |
| 99-42 | Nov 5 | Foods with heavy metal (toxic element) contamination | Spices, supplements, baby foods, rice |
| 99-08 / 99-05 | Nov 5 / Nov 6 | Pesticide residues in processed foods and raw agricultural products | Rice, tea, spices, produce |
| 99-47 | Oct 13 | Human food adulterated for economic gain | Honey, oils, spices, juices |
| 99-32 | Oct 23 | Food from establishments that refuse FDA inspection | Any foreign food facility |
| 16-35 / 16-129 / 16-124 | Nov 6 / Oct 23 / Nov 2 | Shrimp from India; seafood with nitrofurans; aquaculture seafood with unapproved drugs | Seafood exporters |
| 21-07 / 16-50 | Oct 27 | Tamarind products (filth); molluscan shellfish | Tamarind and shellfish exporters |
| 53-06 | Nov 3 | Cosmetics with color additive violations | Cosmetics exporters |
| 99-34 | Nov 2 | Drugs or devices from firms without valid registration or listing | Drug and device makers |
The bigger picture: FDA is moving enforcement to the border
In its Human Foods Program 2026 priorities (January 23, 2026), FDA said it would strengthen oversight of imported food with better data analytics and by using tools such as Import Certification and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program. It also named imported shrimp, with planned partnerships with major exporters such as India and Ecuador.
FSVP is where this is most visible. A November 2026 analysis by a U.S. food law firm counted 15 FSVP warning letters posted between January 1 and April 23, 2026 — about 65% more than in the same period of 2024 — and the FSVP import alert (99-41) was updated again on November 9. Warning letters often tell the importer that its shipments can be placed on detention without physical examination.
What exporters should do now
- 1Check the alerts for your products and countryLook up the alerts above for your product type. Each alert lists the firms on its Red List by country — make sure your company and your suppliers are not on it.
- 2Test before you shipSalmonella for spices, seeds and nuts; heavy metals for spices, rice and supplements; pesticide residues against U.S. tolerances; drug residues for farmed seafood and honey.
- 3Fix the labelEnglish labeling, the U.S. Nutrition Facts format, all 9 major allergens (including sesame), only FDA-approved color additives, and net quantity in U.S. units and metric. Misbranding is one of the most common reasons for detention.
- 4Canned or acidified foods: file firstFCE registration and an SID scheduled process filing must be in place for each product before it ships.
- 5Ask your importer about FSVPIf your U.S. buyer has no FSVP, your shipments can be held under Import Alert 99-41. Many exporters now name a professional FSVP importer to remove that risk.
Orionex can act as your FSVP importer — $600 per year or $80 per shipment — with a PCQI-trained Qualified Individual.
Frequently asked questions
What is an FDA import alert?
An import alert tells FDA staff at U.S. ports that certain products or firms can be detained without physical examination. Firms with violations are put on the alert’s Red List; firms that have shown compliance can be on a Green List. Shipments from Red List firms are held until the importer proves each one is compliant.
What does it mean when FDA "updates" an import alert?
Usually that firms were added to or removed from its Red List or Green List, or that FDA revised the guidance text. FDA’s import alert list shows the date of the latest change, not what changed, so check the alert itself for your country and company.
How do I get my company off an FDA import alert?
The firm or its importer petitions FDA with evidence that the problem is fixed: the root cause, corrective actions and, typically, at least five consecutive shipments shown to be compliant by an independent laboratory. There is no fixed timeline, and reviews can take months.
What is Import Alert 99-41?
Import Alert 99-41 lets FDA detain food without examination when it is imported by a U.S. importer that is not complying with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) rule. The exporter’s product may be perfectly safe — the shipment is held because the importer has no adequate FSVP.
Sources
- FDA — Import Alerts by Publish Date
- Covington — FDA releases its Human Foods Program 2026 priority deliverables
- Garg Law — FDA’s import enforcement surge (November 2026)
- Willson International — FDA Import Alert 99-41 and FSVP requirements
Import alert dates checked against FDA’s import alert list on November 11, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.