MAY 2026: FDA Antibiotic-Contaminated Shrimp Import Refusal Report

Analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monthly refusal data shows that 77.5% of shrimp shipments refused for banned antibiotics in the first five months of 2026 originated from processors certified under the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program.  

In May, these shrimp entry line refusals include shipments from a Chinese exporter, Handan Zhaohui Biotechnology, that has not demonstrated to the FDA that it should be excluded from the Import Alert covering Chinese shrimp but has, nevertheless, obtained a BAP certification and is successfully shipping shrimp products to the U.S. market.

Executive Summary 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported 94 seafood entry line* refusals in May 2026. Analysis of the agency’s refusal data highlights several notable trends involving antibiotic-contaminated farmed shrimp imports.

Trend Analysis

FDA refusal data in May found shrimp contaminated with veterinary drug residues from six different countries.

An entry line of shrimp from Ecuador was refused for veterinary drug residues, the first time that has happened since January of 2024. 

 

• • Three of the refused shrimp entry lines were shipped by a Chinese exporter, Handan Zhaohui Biotechnology, that has failed to qualify for the “Green List” on Import Alert 16-131 but nevertheless obtained a BAP Certification for vannamei. Public entry line data released by the FDA indicates that although the agency has been refusing shipments of breaded shrimp from Handan Zhaohui Biotechnology, it is allowing shipments of shrimp egg rolls, mixed fishery/seafood products to enter the U.S. market.

• • Through the first five months of 2025, the countries responsible for the most entry line refusals of shrimp for the presence of veterinary drug residues are India (10), Indonesia (10), and Vietnam (9).

 

May 2026 Refusals: Detailed Exporter Data

The FDA refused eleven entry lines of shrimp in May 2026 for reasons related to veterinary drug residues (antibiotics/fungicides). 

 

1.     Nekkanti Mega Food Park Private Limited-Unit #1

• • Origin: India

• • Refusal Date(s): May 29, 2026

• • FDA Division: West Coast Imports

• • Violation(s): 1 entry line refused for Veterinary Drug Residues and Nitrofurans

• • Certification Status: BAP-Certified (4-Star)

• • Processing Plant: P10805

• • Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans”) on December 27, 2024.

 

2.    Crimasa Criaderos De Mariscos S.A.

• • Origin: Ecuador

• • Refusal Date(s): May 12, 2026

• • FDA Division: Southeast Imports

• • Violation(s): 1 entry line refused for Veterinary Drug Residues and No English on Labeling

• • Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-124 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugs”) for gentian violet on May 7, 2026.

 

3.     Thinh Phu Aquatic Product Tradin

• • Origin: Vietnam

• • Refusal Date(s): May 13, 2026

• • FDA Division: Northeast Imports

• • Violation(s): 4 entry lines refused for Nitrofurans and Veterinary Drug Residues

• • Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-129 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans”) on April 20, 2026.

 

4.     Asian Sea Corporation Public Company Limited

• • Origin: Thailand

• • Refusal Date(s): May 14, 2026

• • FDA Division: West Coast Imports

• • Violation(s): 1 entry line of breaded shrimp refused for Veterinary Drug Residues

• • Certification Status: BAP-Certified (4-Star)

• • Processing Plants: P10028

• • Import Alert Status: Listed on Import Alert 16-124 (“Detention Without Physical Examination of Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugs”) for gentian violet on May 5, 2026.

 

5.    Organic Shrimps Export Ltd.

• • Origin: Bangladesh

• • Refusal Date(s): May 12, 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.

 

6.     Handan Zhaohui Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

• • Origin: China 

• • Refusal Date(s): May 20, 2026

• • FDA Division: West Coast Imports

• • Violation(s): 3 entry lines of breaded shrimp refused for Unsafe Additive and Veterinary Drug Residues

• • Certification Status: BAP-Certified (1-Star)

• • Processing Plants: P11109

• • 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.

77.5% of shrimp entry lines refused for antibiotics in the first five 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 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.

 

Historical Context & Data Trends

FDA Refusals of Shrimp Entry Lines for Veterinary Drug Residues

2026 YTD Total: 40

2025 Full Year: 93 (the 6th highest total in 24 years)

 

Regulatory & Public Health Notes

Banned Antibiotics Identified

Once again, the primary drug detected in the May 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 “Detention Without Physical Examination” 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.

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*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.