The short answer
Bangladesh exports frozen shrimp, fish, dried and salted fish, spices and snack foods to the U.S. FDA lists Bangladesh on 19 import alerts — most of them for seafood — so careful processing and testing make the difference between clearing customs and being detained.
What Bangladeshi exporters should watch for
🦐 Shrimp
FDA keeps import alerts for raw shrimp (16-18), aquaculture seafood with unapproved drugs (16-124) and seafood with nitrofurans (16-129) that cover Bangladesh. Residue testing and a seafood HACCP plan are essential.
🐟 Dried and salted fish
Import Alert 16-74 covers fish that is salt-cured, dried, smoked, pickled, fermented or brined without being fully eviscerated, because Clostridium botulinum in the gut can form toxin. Dried fish for the U.S. must be fully gutted.
🌶️ Spices and turmeric
Spices are tested for Salmonella (99-19) and heavy metals (99-42). Turmeric has been linked in published research to lead chromate added for color, so test for lead.
🏷️ Labels and allergens
Bangladesh is also on alerts for misbranded food (99-39), undeclared allergens (99-22), undeclared sulfites (99-21) and illegal colors (45-02). English labels with Nutrition Facts and full allergen declarations avoid most of these.
Common reasons Bangladeshi shipments are stopped
- Drug residues in shrimp and farmed fish
- Uneviscerated dried or salted fish
- Lead and heavy metals in turmeric and spices
- Salmonella in seafood and spices
- Labeling — undeclared allergens, sulfites, colors
🏢 No U.S. company to act as FSVP importer? Orionex offers an FSVP importer service for food and dietary supplements — from $80 per shipment, with the program and Qualified Individual included.
What you need to register — and what it costs
| Product type | FDA requirement | Orionex price |
|---|---|---|
| Food, beverages, supplements | Food facility registration + U.S. Agent, renewed every 2 years; Prior Notice for each shipment | $300/year or $450 for 2 years |
| Cosmetics | MoCRA facility registration (every 2 years) + product listing + U.S. Agent | $300/year or $450 for 2 years; listing $150/product |
| Medical devices | Establishment registration (yearly, FDA fee paid separately) + device listing; 510(k) for many Class II devices | $550/year; listing $50/device |
| Drugs (incl. OTC) | Drug establishment registration (yearly) + NDC labeler code + drug listing | $550/year; listing $350/product |
Every Orionex registration includes the U.S. Agent service, D-U-N-S number set-up where needed and a Certificate of Registration. All prices →
Tell us your products — we’ll confirm what you need to register, in writing, by email.
Frequently asked questions
Can dried fish from Bangladesh be exported to the USA?
Yes, if it is fully eviscerated (gutted) before salting, drying, smoking or fermenting, or produced under FDA’s low-acid canned or acidified food rules. Uneviscerated dried fish is covered by Import Alert 16-74 because of the botulism risk. The facility must also register with FDA and follow seafood HACCP.
Why does FDA check Bangladeshi turmeric for lead?
Because turmeric from the region has been linked to lead chromate, a bright yellow pigment sometimes added to improve color. FDA uses Import Alert 99-42 to detain foods with heavy metal contamination, so exporters should test each lot for lead.
Sources
- FDA — Import alerts for Bangladesh
- FDA Import Alert 16-74 — uneviscerated fish
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart H, Registration of Food Facilities
Checked against FDA and other official sources on November 11, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.