FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals: seafood from Morocco
FDA category: Fishery/Seafood Products · October 2016 to January 14, 2025
FDA refused 14 seafood shipment lines from Morocco between October 2016 and January 14, 2025, 3 of them in 2025; the most refused products were sardines and octopus, most often for FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance).
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 14
- seafood lines refused since October 2016
- 3
- refused so far in 2025
- 3
- firms with the most records, listed below
Seafood refusals from Morocco by year
Shipment lines FDA refused each year. The table has the same numbers as the chart.
| Year | Refusal lines | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 1 | -86% |
| 2017 | 7 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 1 |
Sardines refusals from Morocco
FDA refused 8 sardines lines from Morocco between October 2016 and January 14, 2025, 57% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | 7 | 50.0% |
| Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.), cold smoked, fish | 1 | 7.1% |
Recent sardines refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| unimerCasablanca, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | UNSAFE ADDLACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| BelmaAit Melloul, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | NO ENGLISHNEEDS FCE | Source |
Octopus refusals from Morocco
FDA refused 2 octopus lines from Morocco between October 2016 and January 14, 2025, 14% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus, other aquatic species | 2 | 14.3% |
Recent octopus refusals
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raoihane Import Export sarl,Anza, Morocco | Octopus, other aquatic species | FILTHY | Source | |
| Cefalopex MarocAgadir, Morocco | Octopus, other aquatic species | FILTHY | Source |
Tuna refusals from Morocco
FDA refused 2 tuna lines from Morocco between October 2016 and January 14, 2025, 14% of the seafood lines.
| FDA product description | Lines | Share of seafood |
|---|---|---|
| Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | 2 | 14.3% |
Other seafood products refused from Morocco
| Product group | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fish | 1 | 7.1% |
| Other aquatic animals | 1 | 7.1% |
Why FDA refused seafood from Morocco
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 8 | 33% |
| HISTAMINE | Histamine | 4 | 17% |
| NEEDS FCE | Processor not registered for canned or acidified foods | 4 | 17% |
| NO ENGLISH | Required label information not in English | 2 | 8% |
| FALSE | False or misleading labeling | 1 | 4% |
| LACKS N/C | Net quantity statement missing | 1 | 4% |
| NO PROCESS | No scheduled process filed | 1 | 4% |
| NUTRIT LBL | Nutrition information missing from label | 1 | 4% |
| UNSAFE ADD | Food additive unsafe under section 409 | 1 | 4% |
| USUAL NAME | Common or usual name missing | 1 | 4% |
Import alerts for seafood that list Morocco firms
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-120 | Seafood from processors not in compliance with HACCP | 1 |
Morocco seafood firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data, not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan Tan | Tan Tan | 3 |
| Belma | Ait Melloul | 2 |
| unimer | Casablanca | 1 |
Latest seafood refusals from Morocco
| Date | Firm | Product | Charges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| Atlantic Sardine Anchovies Tan TanTan Tan, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINEFILTHY | Source | |
| unimerCasablanca, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | UNSAFE ADDLACKS N/CNUTRIT LBL | Source | |
| MidavSafi, Morocco | Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | FILTHY | Source | |
| MidavSafi, Morocco | Tuna (albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, skipjack, etc.) | NEEDS FCENO PROCESS | Source | |
| BelmaAit Melloul, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | NO ENGLISHNEEDS FCE | Source | |
| BelmaAit Melloul, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | NO ENGLISHNEEDS FCE | Source | |
| Societe Arzak SarlCasablanca, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.), cold smoked, fish | NEEDS FCE | Source | |
| Raoihane Import Export sarl,Anza, Morocco | Octopus, other aquatic species | FILTHY | Source | |
| Cefalopex MarocAgadir, Morocco | Octopus, other aquatic species | FILTHY | Source | |
| Cefalopex MarocAgadir, Morocco | Other aquatic animals, breaded, n.e.c | FILTHY | Source | |
| Haifen FroidAgadir, Morocco | Fish, n.e.c | FILTHYFALSEUSUAL NAME | Source | |
| Unimer Etamar (Plant #2)Safi, Morocco | Sardines (brisling, sprats, pilchards, etc.) | HISTAMINE | Source |
Questions about seafood refusals from Morocco
- How many seafood shipments from Morocco did FDA refuse in 2025?
- FDA refused 3 shipment lines of seafood from Morocco in 2025 through January 14, 2025.
- Why does FDA refuse seafood from Morocco?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For seafood from Morocco the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 8 lines), HISTAMINE (histamine, 4 lines) and NEEDS FCE (processor not registered for canned or acidified foods, 4 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line, not about every firm.
- Which import alerts cover seafood from Morocco?
- As of October 26, 2026, the FDA import alerts for this category that list Morocco firms are Import Alert 16-120 (1 firm). General food alerts numbered 99-xx can list Morocco firms too; see the country page.
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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.