Analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monthly refusal data shows that 76.2% of shrimp shipments refused for banned antibiotics in the first half of 2026 originated from processors certified under the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 78 seafood entry line* refusals in June 2026.
Trend Analysis
FDA refusal data in June found shrimp contaminated with veterinary drug residues from two different countries.
- Through the first half of 2026, the countries responsible for the most entry line refusals of shrimp for the presence of veterinary drug residues continue to be India (10), Indonesia (10), and Vietnam (9).
June 2026 Refusals: Detailed Exporter Data
The FDA refused two entry lines of shrimp in June 2026 for reasons related to veterinary drug residues (antibiotics/fungicides).
1. Organic Shrimps Export Ltd.
- Origin: Bangladesh
- Refusal Date(s): June 5, 2026
- FDA Division: West Coast Imports
- Violation(s): 1 entry line of shrimp refused for Nitrofurans and Veterinary Drug Residues
- Certification Status: 🔴 BAP-Certified (1-Star)
- Processing Plants: P10675
- Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans”) on April 16, 2026.
2. LianJiang Xulong Foods Co., Ltd.
- Origin: China
- Refusal Date(s): June 17, 2026
- FDA Division: Northeast Imports
- Violation(s): 1 entry line of refused for Unsafe Additive and Veterinary Drug Residues
- Import Alert Status: Not on the “green” list for IA 16-131 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Aquacultured Shrimp, Dace, and Eel from China and Hong Kong SAR – Presence of New Animal Drugs and/or Unsafe Food Additives”).
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.
76.2% of shrimp entry lines refused for antibiotics in the first half 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 ten BAP-certified facilities operating in six different countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam), led by Indonesia’s PT. Tamron Akuatik Produk Industri.
Although there were only two entry lines of shrimp reported as refused for reasons related to veterinary drug residues in June, another eight entry lines of shrimp – all from Ecuador – were refused for salmonella. Six of these entry lines were from Expotuna S.A., while the other two were shipped by Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila S.A. (Factory 2).
Another BAP-Certified Indian Shrimp Exporter Added to Import Alert 16-129
On June 9, 2026, the FDA added K.N.C. Agro Limited to Import Alert 16-129 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans”). As noted above, K.N.C. Agro possesses a four-star BAP certification for its processing plant (P10630), as well as certifications for affiliated farms (F10849, F10849A, and F13822).
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. 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: FDA’s Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) data analyzed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance.