On July 19, in San Diego, Partner Rick Quinn of FDAImports.com will be offering a seminar, for growers, exporters, and importers of papaya from Mexico, teaching how to be added to the Green List for Import Alert 21-17 (Countrywide Detention Without Physical Examination of Papaya from Mexico). This seminar will help members of the papaya industry understand the method FDA has created for firms to get exempted from Import Alert – a method that FDA encourages them to use. There is a way out!
The 2011 Salmonella scare caused importers and exporters of papaya to rethink their practices as FDA cracked down on all papaya coming from Mexico. FDA created a countrywide Import Alert (21-17), which meant that importers of Mexican papaya growers had to test every entry for Salmonella before FDA would allow them to be imported. These higher standards for import are a significant problem, since 90% of Mexico’s exported papayas go to the United States. FDA’s current enforcement approach can cause serious supply chain drains and demands, but companies in the papaya industry do not need to struggle with compliance forever.
Additionally, attendees will learn how FDA’s current enforcement actions foreshadowed FSMA’s new Standards for Produce Safety, and how these requirements and standards will impact their businesses in the future. Mr. Quinn will dispel the rumors and eradicate misinformation related to FDA regulatory compliance for importing papayas, particularly with respect to Import Alert 21-17.
To register for the seminar, please send an email to info@fdaimports.com. For more information, contact Guillermo B. Lizarraga at (619) 661-0068 or Guillermo@lizarragabrokers.com.
