FDA import refusals
FDA import refusals from Panama
Food, dietary supplements and animal food · October 2016 to June 2, 2026 · how the data is collected
FDA refused 56 shipment lines from Panama between October 2016 and June 2026, including 1 in 2026 through June 2, 2026; the most common charges were FILTHY, PESTICIDE and HISTAMINE, and the most refused category was seafood.
Data from FDA public records, last checked .
- 56
- refused shipment lines since October 2016
- 1
- refused so far in 2026
- 68
- Panama firms with an FDA record
- 20
- firms on an active import alert
Refusals from Panama 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) | 1 | |
| 2025 | 2 | -71% |
| 2024 | 7 | +133% |
| 2023 | 3 | +200% |
| 2022 | 1 | -89% |
| 2021 | 9 | +800% |
| 2020 | 1 | -75% |
| 2019 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 23 | |
| 2016 (from Oct) | 5 |
Why FDA refused Panama shipment lines
FDA records a charge code on each refused line; one line can carry several. Each code opens FDA's official statement and the countries and products behind it.
| Charge code | Meaning | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILTHY | Filthy, putrid or decomposed substance | 49 | 83% |
| PESTICIDE | Pesticide chemical residue | 3 | 5% |
| HISTAMINE | Histamine | 2 | 3% |
| LABELING | Fair Packaging and Labeling Act | 2 | 3% |
| LACKS FIRM | Manufacturer name and address missing | 1 | 2% |
| MFRHACCP | Seafood HACCP requirements not met | 1 | 2% |
| UNAPPROVED | Unapproved new drug | 1 | 2% |
What FDA refused from Panama, by product category
FDA product categories, most refused first. Open a category for its product, charge and firm tables.
| Category | Most refused products | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| SeafoodFishery/Seafood Products | Mahi mahi; Spiny lobster, rock lobster; Fish maw, fishery products, n.e.c. | 50 |
| Tropical and pit fruitFruit and Fruit Products (pit, subtropical and tropical fruits) | Papaya (papaw) (subtropical and tropical fruit) | 3 |
| Vegetables (legumes and leafy)Vegetables and Vegetable Products (legumes, leaf and stem, fruit vegetables) | Corn, (vegetable) | 1 |
| Coffee and teaCoffee and Tea | Coffee, beans | 1 |
| Dietary supplementsVitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties | Fiber, n.e.c. | 1 |
Most refused products from Panama
FDA's product descriptions on the refused lines, grouped case-insensitively.
| Product | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mahi mahi | 25 | 44.6% |
| Spiny lobster, rock lobster | 21 | 37.5% |
| Papaya (papaw) (subtropical and tropical fruit) | 3 | 5.4% |
| Fish maw, fishery products, n.e.c. | 2 | 3.6% |
| Clam paste, fishery products, n.e.c. | 1 | 1.8% |
| Clams | 1 | 1.8% |
| Coffee, beans | 1 | 1.8% |
| Corn, (vegetable) | 1 | 1.8% |
| Fiber, n.e.c. | 1 | 1.8% |
FDA import alerts that list Panama firms
6 alerts list at least one firm in Panama: 18 firms on a red list, 20 firms on any list.
| Alert | Covers | Red | Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-120 | Seafood from processors not in compliance with HACCP | 8 | |
| 16-81 | Seafood products: Salmonella | 6 | |
| 16-125 | Refrigerated raw fish in reduced oxygen packaging | 2 | |
| 99-21 | Foods with undeclared added sulfiting agents | 2 | |
| 16-04 | Seafood products that appear to be misbranded | 1 | |
| 99-05 | Raw agricultural products: pesticides | 1 |
Panama firms with the most FDA records
Counts are FDA records in SupplierRadar's data (refusals, import alert listings and other events), not a ranking of quality.
| Firm | City | FDA records |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Deli Panama, S.A. | Arraijan | 13 |
| Grupo Panalang Union, Inc. | San Miguelito | 13 |
| Marine Packers S.A. | Aguadulce | 12 |
| Independent Seafoods Panama S.A. | Panama City | 6 |
| Manabi Export Panama S.A. | Panama City | 1 |
Latest refusals from Panama
The 20 most recent refused lines, each with its FDA source.
Questions about FDA refusals from Panama
- How many Panama shipments did FDA refuse in 2026?
- FDA refused 1 shipment line from Panama in 2026 through June 2, 2026, compared with 2 in 2025 (a full year).
- Why does FDA refuse food from Panama?
- FDA records a charge code on every refused shipment line. For Panama the most frequent are FILTHY (filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, 49 lines), PESTICIDE (pesticide chemical residue, 3 lines) and HISTAMINE (histamine, 2 lines). A charge describes what FDA's reference table says about one shipment line; it is not a finding about every firm in the country.
- Which Panama firms have the most FDA refusals?
- In SupplierRadar's records the Panama firms with the most FDA records (refusals, import alert listings and other events) are Sea Deli Panama, S.A. (Arraijan) with 13 records, Grupo Panalang Union, Inc. (San Miguelito) with 13 records and Marine Packers S.A. (Aguadulce) with 12 records. Each firm's page lists every record with its FDA source.
- Which FDA import alerts list Panama firms?
- As of October 26, 2026, 6 FDA import alerts list at least one firm in Panama. The alerts with the most Panama listings are Import Alert 16-120 (8 firms), Import Alert 16-81 (6 firms) and Import Alert 16-125 (2 firms).
- How many Panama firms are on an FDA import alert red list?
- As of October 26, 2026, 18 Panama firms are on the red list of at least one FDA import alert in SupplierRadar's records, and 20 firms are on any list.
All Panama suppliers with FDA records (24)
Every Panama firm in SupplierRadar's data with an active import alert, a warning letter or at least five FDA records, most recently active first. Each name opens the firm's FDA record history.
- Manabi Export Panama S.A.Panama City
- Independent Seafoods Panama S.A.Panama City
- Rocmar Seafood S.A.Panama City
- Agrotropical Sostenible, S.ARio Grande
- Grupo Panalang Union, Inc.San Miguelito
- Independent Seafoods Panama, S.A.Panama City
- Salva Mar, S.A.Chitre District
- Marine Packers S.A.Aguadulce
- Sea Deli Panama, S.A.Arraijan
- Pacific Export CorporationRemedios
- Productos Oceano S.AChepo
- Productos Alimenticios Pascual, S.A.Zona 8
- Nalma, S.A.Aguadulce
- Inversiones del Mar Pacifico, S.A. (I.M.P.S.A)David
- Queen Fish Panama, SAPanama
- New Life CorporationDavid
- Gabrimar Export Fish S.A.Remedios
- Green Bay International, S.A.David
- Pacific Tropical Fish S.A.Chitre
- Atlantic Mariner InternationalPanama
- Empacadora Alimenticia, S.A.Arraijan
- Green Acres Business Corp.Bella Vista
- South Winds Seafood Company, S.A.Panama
- Inversiones YemikaPanama
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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.