The short answer
Nicaragua exports coffee, farmed shrimp, peanuts, sesame and cheese to the U.S. (beef goes through USDA). Peanuts and shrimp are where FDA attention concentrates.
What Nicaraguan exporters should watch for
☕ Coffee
Coffee mills, roasters and warehouses register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent; each shipment needs Prior Notice. Farms that only grow and dry their own coffee are generally exempt.
🦐 Farmed shrimp
Shrimp processors must register with FDA and follow seafood HACCP; farmed shrimp is checked for unapproved drug residues.
🥜 Peanuts and sesame
Peanuts are checked for aflatoxins and sesame for Salmonella (Import Alert 99-19). Both are U.S. major allergens and must be declared.
🧀 Cheese
Cheese plants register with FDA. Cheese made from raw milk must be aged at least 60 days at no less than 35°F (1.7°C), so fresh raw-milk cheeses cannot be sold in the U.S.
Common reasons Nicaraguan shipments are stopped
- Aflatoxins in peanuts
- Salmonella in sesame
- Drug residues in farmed shrimp
- Raw-milk cheese aged less than 60 days
- Labeling — Spanish-only labels, undeclared allergens
🏢 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 Nicaraguan fresh cheese be exported to the U.S.?
Only if it is made from pasteurized milk, or — for raw-milk cheese — aged at least 60 days at no less than 35°F (1.7°C). The plant must be registered with FDA and the label must meet U.S. rules.
Do Nicaraguan peanut exporters need FDA registration?
Yes. Shelling, processing and packing facilities must register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent, and each shipment needs Prior Notice. Peanuts are tested for aflatoxins, so lot testing is important.
Sources
- eCFR — 21 CFR Part 133, Cheeses and related cheese products
- 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
Checked against FDA and other official sources on November 11, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.