What does FALSECAT mean on an FDA refusal?

FALSECAT is the refusal charge “Appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified…”. FDA's official statement for the charge reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified within the family Ictaluridae.”

What law does FALSECAT cite?

FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 403(t) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act for FALSECAT. The table is the Refusal Charges reference file that FDA publishes with its Data Dashboard.

Which countries have the most FALSECAT refusals?

As of October 26, 2026, the countries with the most FALSECAT refusal lines are Guyana (1). The full list with links is in the table on this page.

Is there an FDA import alert for FALSECAT?

SupplierRadar found no food import alert whose charge section names FALSECAT. An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.

FDA refusal charge

FDA refusal charge FALSECAT

Appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified…

FALSECAT is the FDA import refusal charge for appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified…; it cites sections 403(t) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act. FDA recorded it on 1 refused shipment line from 1 country between October 2016 and March 20, 2017, most often for seafood from Guyana.

Data from FDA public records, last checked October 26, 2026.

1
refused shipment lines carry this charge: 1
countries of origin: 0
import alerts name this charge

What FALSECAT means

SupplierRadar has not written a plain-English version of FALSECAT yet. FDA's own statement is quoted below.

FD&C Act section: 403(t)801(a)(3)

FDA's official statement

Copied unchanged from FDA's Refusal Charges reference table.

The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified within the family Ictaluridae.

FALSECAT · 403(t), 801(a)(3)FDA reference table (CSV)

Countries with the most FALSECAT refusals

Shipment lines carrying FALSECAT, by country of origin.

FALSECAT refusal lines by country
Country	Lines	Share of FALSECAT
Guyana	1	100%

Product categories with the most FALSECAT refusals

FALSECAT refusal lines by product category
Category	Lines	Share of FALSECAT
Fishery/Seafood Products	1	100%

Latest FALSECAT refusals

The 1 most recent refused lines, through March 20, 2017, each with its FDA source.

Latest FDA refusals carrying FALSECAT
Date	Firm	Product	Charges
Mar 20, 2017	D Bissoon and Family SeafoodWest Coast Demerara, Guyana	Fish, n.e.c	FALSECAT	Source

Questions about FALSECAT

What does FALSECAT mean on an FDA refusal?: FALSECAT is the refusal charge “Appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified…”. FDA's official statement for the charge reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be misbranded because it purports to be or is represented as catfish but is not a fish classified within the family Ictaluridae.”
What law does FALSECAT cite?: FDA's refusal charge table cites sections 403(t) and 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act for FALSECAT. The table is the Refusal Charges reference file that FDA publishes with its Data Dashboard.
Which countries have the most FALSECAT refusals?: As of October 26, 2026, the countries with the most FALSECAT refusal lines are Guyana (1). The full list with links is in the table on this page.
Is there an FDA import alert for FALSECAT?: SupplierRadar found no food import alert whose charge section names FALSECAT. An import alert is a list of firms; a charge code is the reason recorded on one refused shipment line.

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SupplierRadar is not affiliated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Data comes from public FDA records and may contain errors. This is not legal advice; importers remain responsible for their supplier evaluations.