FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: seafood from Japan
FDA category: Fishery/Seafood Products · October 2016 to October 14, 2026
FDA refused 218 seafood shipment lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 14, 2026, 8 of them in 2026; the most refused products were yellowtail and scallops, most often for MFRHACCP (seafood HACCP requirements not met).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 218
- seafood lines refused since October 2016
- 8
- refused so far in 2026
- 10
- firms with the most records, listed below
Seafood refusals from Japan by year
Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
| Year | Refusal lines | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | 8 | |
| 2025 | 16 | -79% |
| 2024 | 76 | +2433% |
| 2023 | 3 | +50% |
| 2022 | 2 | -67% |
| 2021 | 6 | -74% |
| 2020 | 23 | +5% |
| 2019 | 22 | +47% |
| 2018 | 15 | -67% |
| 2017 | 46 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 1 |
Yellowtail refusals from Japan
FDA refused 44 yellowtail lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 14, 2026, 20% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail, amberjack | 44 | 20.2% |
Recent yellowtail refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiki, Inc.Kagoshima-shi, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | VETDRUGRES | Source | |
| Seiki, Inc.Kagoshima-shi, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | VETDRUGRES | Source | |
| Nara Co.,Ltd.Ibusuki, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | MFRHACCP | Source |
Scallops refusals from Japan
FDA refused 27 scallops lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 14, 2026, 12% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Scallops | 27 | 12.4% |
Recent scallops refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirakawa Suisan Co., Ltd.Akkeshi-Gun, Japan | Scallops | IMPTRHACCP | Source | |
| Marukaichi Suisan Co., Ltd.Monbetsu, Japan | Scallops | FILTHY | Source | |
| Maruichi Food Co., Ltd.Sapporo, Japan | Scallops | LIST INGREFALSENUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Maruichi Food Co., Ltd.Sapporo, Japan | Scallops | LIST INGRENUTRIT LBL | Source |
Fish refusals from Japan
FDA refused 19 fish lines from Japan between October 2016 and October 14, 2026, 9% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Fish, n.e.c. | 19 | 8.7% |
Other seafood products refused from Japan
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Squid | 15 | 6.9% |
| Anchovy | 12 | 5.5% |
| Bream | 10 | 4.6% |
| Mackerel | 10 | 4.6% |
| Aquaculture harvested fishery/seafood products | 7 | 3.2% |
| Clams | 7 | 3.2% |
| Sardines | 6 | 2.8% |
Why FDA refused seafood from Japan
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFRHACCP | Seafood HACCP requirements not met | 91 | 36% |
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 31 | 12% |
| LISTERIA | Listeria monocytogenes | 23 | 9% |
| MFR INSAN | Insanitary manufacturing, processing or packing | 20 | 8% |
| LIST INGRE | Ingredients not listed | 18 | 7% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 17 | 7% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 16 | 6% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 12 | 5% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 11 | 4% |
| USUAL NAME | Common or usual name missing | 11 | 4% |
Import alerts for seafood that list Japan firms
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-39 | Ready-to-eat seafood: Listeria monocytogenes | 22 | |
| 16-74 | Uneviscerated salt-cured, dried, smoked or fermented fish | 20 | 2 |
| 16-125 | Refrigerated raw fish in reduced oxygen packaging | 2 | 15 |
| 16-120 | Seafood from processors not in compliance with HACCP | 15 | |
| 16-119 | Fish products from importer and processor combinations | 12 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products: Salmonella | 6 | |
| 16-02 | Dried shark fins, fish maws and shark cartilage: filth | 4 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 4 | |
| 16-105 | Fish products: decomposition, histamine or indole | 1 | |
| 16-124 | Aquaculture seafood: unapproved drugs | 1 |
Japan seafood firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Nara Co.,Ltd. | Ibusuki | 33 |
| Fukusui Shoji Ltd. | Fukuoka | 33 |
| Maruka Shokuhin | Onomichi-shi | 14 |
| Seiki, Inc. | Kagoshima-shi | 11 |
| True World Japan Inc | Tokyo | 6 |
| Inaba Foods Co., Ltd. | Shizuoka | 6 |
| Esashi Fisheries Cooperative Assn. Food Process Center | Esashi-Gun | 6 |
| Inoue Shokuhin Co., Ltd. (Reizoko) | Kobe | 6 |
| Csn Chihou Sousei Network Co Ltd | TOKYO | 5 |
| Tsukiji Ohta Co.,Ltd. | Koutou-Ku | 5 |
Latest seafood refusals from Japan
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAGASAKI TAKARA SYOKUHIN Co., Ltd. KYOUDOMARI FACTORYNagasaki, Japan | Squid, breaded, other aquatic species | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Oak K.K., CorporationSakaiminato, Japan | Mackerel (all except scomberomorus sp, eg spanish or king see '22') | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Oak K.K., CorporationSakaiminato, Japan | Mackerel (all except scomberomorus sp, eg spanish or king see '22') | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Oak K.K., CorporationSakaiminato, Japan | Mackerel (all except scomberomorus sp, eg spanish or king see '22') | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Oak K.K., CorporationSakaiminato, Japan | Mackerel (all except scomberomorus sp, eg spanish or king see '22') | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Nakaura ShokuhinMatsue, Japan | Puffer | POISONORD | Source | |
| Inaba Foods Co., Ltd.Shizuoka, Japan | Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Inaba Foods Co., Ltd.Shizuoka, Japan | Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | REFUSE EI | Source | |
| Sasaki Foods Co.,LtdMatsuyama, Japan | Mackerel (all except scomberomorus sp, eg spanish or king see '22') | WRONG IDEN | Source | |
| Hirakawa Suisan Co., Ltd.Akkeshi-Gun, Japan | Scallops | IMPTRHACCP | Source | |
| Marukaichi Suisan Co., Ltd.Monbetsu, Japan | Scallops | FILTHY | Source | |
| Kyokuyo Shokuhin Co., Ltd Shiogama FactoryShiogama, Japan | Crab, imitation | UNSAFE ADD | Source | |
| Yamaishi, K.K.Aomori, Japan | Scallops, aquaculture harvested fishery/seafood products | LACKS FIRMNO ENGLISH | Source | |
| Maruichi Food Co., Ltd.Sapporo, Japan | Scallops | LIST INGREFALSENUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Maruichi Food Co., Ltd.Sapporo, Japan | Scallops | LIST INGRENUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| Seiki, Inc.Kagoshima-shi, Japan | Aquaculture harvested fishery/seafood products, n.e.c., | VETDRUGRES | Source | |
| Seiki, Inc.Kagoshima-shi, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | VETDRUGRES | Source | |
| Seiki, Inc.Kagoshima-shi, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | VETDRUGRES | Source | |
| Nara Co.,Ltd.Ibusuki, Japan | Yellowtail, amberjack | MFRHACCP | Source | |
| Maruei Suisan Co.,Ltd.Monbetsu, Japan | Scallops, aquaculture harvested fishery/seafood products | FILTHY | Source |
Questions about seafood refusals from Japan
- How many seafood shipments from Japan did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 8 shipment lines of seafood from Japan in 2026 through October 14, 2026, compared with 16 in 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse seafood from Japan?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For seafood from Japan the most frequent are MFRHACCP (seafood HACCP requirements not met, 91 lines), FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 31 lines) and LISTERIA (Listeria monocytogenes, 23 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover seafood from Japan?
- As of October 25, 2026, the FDA import alerts for this category that list Japan firms are Import Alert 16-39 (22 firms), Import Alert 16-74 (22 firms), Import Alert 16-125 (17 firms) and Import Alert 16-120 (15 firms). General food alerts numbered 99-xx can list Japan firms too; see the country page.
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