The short answer
Myanmar exports beans and pulses, crab, shrimp and other seafood, sesame, rice and fermented tea leaf (lahpet) to the U.S. Seafood and sesame are the products most often stopped.
What Myanmar exporters should watch for
🫘 Beans and pulses
Cleaning, sorting and packing facilities register with FDA. Pulses are checked for filth, insects and pesticide residues.
🦀 Crab and shrimp
Seafood processors register with FDA and follow seafood HACCP; farmed shrimp is checked for drug residues.
🌾 Sesame
Sesame is tested for Salmonella (Import Alert 99-19) and is a U.S. major allergen that must be declared.
🍃 Lahpet (fermented tea leaf)
Fermented tea leaf is a food: the producer registers with FDA, and labels need English ingredients and Nutrition Facts. Colors and preservatives must be allowed in the U.S.
Common reasons Myanmar shipments are stopped
- Salmonella in sesame
- Filth and insects in beans and pulses
- Seafood HACCP gaps and drug residues
- Unapproved colors or preservatives
- Labeling — Burmese-only text
🏢 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
Do Myanmar bean exporters need FDA registration?
Yes. Facilities that clean, sort, pack or store beans and pulses for the U.S. must register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent, and each shipment needs Prior Notice. Farms that only grow and dry their own crops are generally exempt.
Can lahpet be exported to the U.S.?
Yes, as a food. The producer must register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent, use only colors and preservatives allowed in the U.S., and label the product in English with ingredients, allergens (such as peanuts or sesame if added) and Nutrition Facts.
Sources
- FDA Import Alert 99-19 — Salmonella (notes separate alerts for black pepper from India and Brazil)
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart H, Registration of Food Facilities
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart I, Prior Notice of Imported Food
Checked against FDA and other official sources on November 11, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.