Analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monthly refusal data shows that 86.2% of shrimp shipments refused for banned antibiotics in the first four months of 2026 originated from processors certified under the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program.Ā Although roughly half (14 of 29) of all entry line refusals for veterinary drug residues involve shrimp from India and Vietnam, the single largest source of antibiotic-contaminated shrimp this year is Indonesia.
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Executive Summary
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 77 seafood entry line* refusals in April 2026. Analysis of the agencyās refusal data highlights several notable trends involving antibiotic-contaminated farmed shrimp imports.
Key Findings
- In April 2026, 10.4% of all FDA seafood import entry line refusals involved shrimp contaminated with banned antibiotics.
- The FDA refused eight shrimp entry lines in April 2026 for reasons related to the presence of banned veterinary drug residues.
- Seven of the eight shrimp entry lines refused in April for banned antibiotics originated from BAP-certified facilities.
- A total of 29 shrimp entry lines have been refused for antibiotic residues year-to-date in 2026.
- In 2026, 2% of FDA shrimp entry line refusals related to banned antibiotics originated from BAP-certified facilities.
- FDA testing continues to detect nitrofurans, antibiotics banned in aquaculture exports to the United States.
APRIL 2026 SHRIMP ANTIBIOTIC REFUSALS
Total FDA Seafood Refusals (April)
77 entry lines
Shrimp Antibiotic Refusals (April)
8 entry lines
Total FDA Seafood Refusals (YTD)
425 entry lines
Shrimp Antibiotic Refusals (YTD)
29 entry lines
Refusals from BAP-Certified Facilities (YTD) 86.2% (25 entry lines)
Trend Analysis
FDA refusal data in April once again confirmed that India continues to export shrimp contaminated with banned antibiotics to the United States.
- 4 of 8 entry lines of antibiotic-related shrimp refusals in April 2026 involve Indian shipments.
- The refused entry lines involved shrimp found to be contaminated with nitrofurans.
- These entry lines originated from two different Indian shrimp companies.
April 2026 Refusals: Detailed Exporter Data
The FDA refused eight entry lines of shrimp in April 2026 for reasons related to veterinary drug residues (antibiotics/fungicides).
- Monsun Foods Private Ltd
- Origin: India
- Refusal Date(s): April 21, 2026
- FDA Division: Northeast Imports
- Violation(s): 3 entry lines refused for Veterinary Drug Residues and Nitrofurans
- Certification Status:
BAP-Certified (4-Star)- Processing Plant: P10797
- Farms: F12409E; F12409F; F12409G
- Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofuransā) on April 9, 2026.
- N.C. Agro Limited
- Origin: India
- Refusal Date(s): April 27, 2026
- FDA Division: Southwest Imports
- Violation(s): 1 entry line refused for Nitrofurans
- Certification Status: BAP-Certified (4-Star)
- Processing Plant: P10630
- Farms: F10849, F10849A, F13822
- Import Alert Status: Not currently listed on Import Alert 16-124 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugsā), Import Alert 16-127 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of All Seafood Due to Chloramphenicolā), or Import Alert 16-129 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofuransā).
- Bac Lieu Fisheries Joint Stock Company ā Nha Trang Branch
- Origin: Vietnam
- Refusal Date(s): April 16, 2026
- FDA Division: Northeast Imports
- Violation(s): 1 entry line refused for Veterinary Drug Residues
- Certification Status: BAP-Certified (1-Star)
- Processing Plant: P10577
- Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofuransā) on December 18, 2025.Ā āBac Lieu Fisheriesā has been listed on listed on Import Alert 16-124 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugsā) since June 19, 2015 for sulfadoxine in its shrimp.
- Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri
- Origin: Indonesia
- Refusal Date(s): April 2, 2026 and April 6, 2026
- FDA Division: Southwest Imports
- Violation(s): 2 entry lines refused for Nitrofurans and Veterinary Drug Residues
- Certification Status: BAP-Certified (4-Star)
- Processing Plants: P10704
- Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofuransā) on August 28, 2025.
- Jiangmen Ziqiao Food Ltd.
- Origin: China
- Refusal Date(s): April 28, 2026
- FDA Division: West Coast Imports
- Violation(s): 1 entry line refused for Unsafe Additive and Veterinary Drug Residues
- Import Alert Status: Not on the “green” list for IA 16-131 (āDetention Without Physical Examination of Aquacultured Shrimp, Dace, and Eel from China and Hong Kong SAR ā Presence of New Animal Drugs and/or Unsafe Food Additivesā).
BAP-Certified Facility Tracker (2026 YTD)
The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program, operated by the Global Seafood Alliance, is widely used by retailers and seafood brands to indicate that seafood is safe and responsibly farmed.
86.2% of shrimp entry lines refused for antibiotics in the first four months of 2026 originated from BAP-certified facilities. This finding raises questions about whether third-party certification audits adequately detect banned veterinary drug use at farms and processing plants.
The shrimp entry lines refused by the FDA for banned antibiotics in 2026 originated from eight BAP-certified facilities operating in four different countries (India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam), led by Indonesiaās PT. Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri.
BAP-Certified Facility Leaderboard (2026 YTD)
Processor Name | Country | BAP Rating | Certification Numbers | Refusal Count (YTD) |
PT. Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri | Indonesia | 4-Star | P10704 | 9 |
Monsun Foods Private Ltd | India | 4-Star | P10797, F12409E, F12409F, F12409G | 4 |
Nezami Rekha Seafoods Private Limited | India | 4-Star | P10905 | 3 |
Gallant Dachan Seafood Co., Ltd. | Vietnam | 3-Star | P10436 | 2 |
Seavina Joint Stock Company | Vietnam | 4-Star | P10387, F12012 | 2 |
Asian Sea Corporation Public Company Limited | Thailand | 4-Star | P10028 | 1 |
Bac Lieu Fisheries Joint Stock Company ā Nha Trang Branch | Vietnam | 1-Star | P10577 | 1 |
K.N.C. Agro Limited | India | 4-Star | P10630, F10849, F10849A, F13822 | 1 |
Nekkanti Mega Food Park Private Limited ā Unit #1 | India | 4-Star | P10805 | 1 |
Pt. Sekar Bumi, Tbk. | Indonesia | 4-Star | P10337, P11130, F11891, F11735, F11016 | 1 |
Historical Context & Data Trends
FDA Refusals of Shrimp Entry Lines for Veterinary Drug Residues
2026 YTD Total: 29
2025 Full Year: 93 (the 6th highest total in 24 years)
India Trend
Traditionally, major markets for farmed shrimp find that banned antibiotic abuse is dominated by India and Vietnam.
Thus far in 2026, fourteen of the 29 entry line refusals are of shrimp from India and Vietnam.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance believes that failure to address antibiotic abuse in India and Vietnam creates financial pressures incentivizing the spread of the practice.Ā
- The single largest number of entry line refusals of shrimp this year is attributable to Indonesia with ten, including two in April 2026.
- Since January 2025, the FDA has refused forty entry lines of Indonesian shrimp for reasons related to veterinary drug residues. This total, over a period of sixteen months, is the same number of total refusals of Indonesian shrimp entry lines for reasons related to banned antibiotics in the 23-year time period between 2002 and 2024.Ā
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Regulatory & Public Health Notes
Banned Antibiotics Identified
The primary drug detected in the April refusals is Nitrofurans, a class of antibiotics banned in aquaculture exports to the United States.
Several processors associated with refusals (notably PT. Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri) are already subject to FDA Import Alert 16-129 āDetention Without Physical Examinationā for Nitrofurans contamination.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The FDA has not authorized the use of antibiotics in shrimp farming. Scientists tie the use of banned antibiotics and fungicides in foreign shrimp aquaculture to the creation and spread of AMR.
Antibiotics in shrimp farming are often used for:
- Disease treatment
- Disease prevention
- Growth promotion
These practices can contribute to global antibiotic resistance, which the World Health Organization identifies as a major public health threat.
*What is an entry line? An entry line refers to each unique product form included in a container.Ā A single shipment generally will include multiple entry lines. For example, if a container contains retail bags of 16/20 count headless, shell-on shrimp and 21/25 count headless, shell-on shrimp, then there will be two entry lines associated with that single shipment. Entry lines do not provide volume data.
Report Source: FDAās Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) data analyzed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance.