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IA #23-02, REVISED 12/20/96 - IMPORT ALERT #23-02 "DETENTION  WITHOUT PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION OF MELON SEEDS, ATTACHMENTS   A - 4/6/04, ATTACHMENT C & ATTACHMENT
B - 4/17/06

NOTE: This alert is being revised to reflect updated information. Additional
changes are bracketed by asterisks(***).


TYPE OF ALERT: **Detention Without Physical Examination** and Guidance

PRODUCT      :  Melon seeds

PRODUCT CODE :  23K[][]05

PROBLEM      :  Aflatoxin (PSAM)
                Color (UCNC)
                Filth (FLNF, FLRF, FLAF)

COUNTRY      :  Sudan (SD, 835)
                PROC (CN, 280)
                Hong Kong (HK, 435)
                Thailand (TH, 875)

MANUFACTURER/
SHIPPER      :  Various

MANUFACTURER
SHIPPER I.D.#:  N/A

IMPORTER'S
I.D.#        :  N/A

CHARGE       : "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
               Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain "AFLATOXIN," a
               poisonous and deleterious substance, which may ordinarily
                render it injurious to health."  [Adulteration, Section
               402(a)(1)]

                                         or

               "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
               Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to bear or contain a color
               additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 706(a)."
               [Adulteration, Section 402(c)]

                                         or

               "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to
               Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to consist in whole or in
               part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is
               otherwise unfit for food, in that in contains insect, rodent,
               animal or other filth."  [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(3)]

RECOMMENDING
OFFICE      :  New York District (HFR-NE152)

REASON FOR
ALERT       :  Melon seeds from the Sudan have been on ***Detention Without
               Physical Examination  since 1982 due to violative levels of
               alfatoxin.  Shipments continue to be offered for entry, and
               refused, due to the presence of aflatoxin.

               In March 1991, New York Regional Laboratory analyzed two
               products, dried melon seeds and black melon seeds, offered for
               entry from Thailand.  Both samples were found to contain
               violative levels of aflatoxin.

           *** Red melon seeds from Hong Kong and the PROC have been on
               detention Without Physical Examination*** since 1982 due to the
               presence of illegal colors.  We continue to find non-permitted
               colors in products shipped from Hong Kong, and the Peoples
               Republic of China.   Colors detected include FD&C Red #2, D&C
               Red #11, D&C Orange #4, and Ponceau 4R.

                In addition, during FY 91, ten entries of all types of melon
                seeds were found to contain rodent or insect filth using AOAC,
                15th ed., 950.86, 1990.  These detentions include various
                shippers from the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Jordan
                and Lebanon.

               CHI-DO recently detained a shipment of watermelon seeds from
               Walid and Khaled Eyayan, Amman, Jordan.  The invoices for the
               product certified that the goods listed were of the origin of
               Jordan and local market purchase.  A wharf exam revealed that
               the product was originally shipped from China to Jordan, before
               sale and shipment to the U.S.

               The specific manufacturer/shipper from China could not be
               identified.  Districts should be aware of misdeclaration of
               country on these products.

GUIDANCE:      ***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of the
               specified melon seed products offered for entry from those
               firms listed in Attachment A due to the presence of aflatoxin.

               ***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of red
               melon seeds offered for entry from those countries identified
               in Attachment B due to the presence of illegal color additives.

               ***Shippers exempted from the requirements of this import are
                  listed in Attachment "C"***

               Coverage of all types of melon seed products for aflatoxin,
               color additives and filth, as appropriate, is indicated.

FOI          :  No purging is required.

KEYWORDS     :  Aflatoxin, colors, filth, dried melon seeds, black melon
                seeds, red melon seeds, watermelon seeds

PREPARED BY  :  Jack Geltman, SDWG, DIOP, HFC-172, (301)443-6553

DATE LOADED
INTO FIARS   :  December 20, 1996


Attachment A to Import Alert #23-02                       4/6/04


 Melon Seeds on ***Detention Without Physical Examination for Aflatoxin***

    Packer/Shipper                      Product

All firms from the Sudan                Melon Seeds



Lam Bao Bao                        Melon Seeds         Contains non-permitted
4C2 Dong An 7                 23K[][]05      Rhodamine B (CI 45170
Vietnam                       4/6/04         D&C Red No. 19)
FEI #3004409389                                   And non-permitted acid
                                             Orange 7 (CI 15510,
                                             D&C Orange No.4)


Lang Derm Exporters                     Dried Melon Seeds
Bangkok, Thailand

Kwang Yak Joo Ltd.                      Black Melon Seeds
Bangkok, Thailand

Kub Moyo Enterprises Nig Ltd.      Melon Seeds, Edible
P.O. Box 2751, Apapa Lagos
Nigeria
FEI #3002840977Attachment B to Import Alert #23-02                       4/17/06

Melon Seeds on ***Detention Without Physical Examination ***Due to
Non-Permitted Colors

Packer/Shipper                Product

All firms from PROC                Red Melon Seeds

All firms from Hong Kong           Red Melon Seeds



                    IRAN (IR)

Rojar Corp.                        Watermelon Seeds         Fast Crimson GR
                              23K[][]05
                              11/20/01            Ponceau 4R
Manufacturer:
597 Khayam Street
Teheran, Iran
FEI #3003315479

Shipping:
46 Amir Atabak Avenue, Suite 2
Teheran, Iran
FEI #3003118491

Fast Crimson GR (C.I. 18050, formerly certifiable as Ext. D&C Red #11) is not
permitted in or on food products

                    MACAU (MO)

Manufacturer:                 Black Melon Seeds        Undeclared
Not Known,                         23K[][]05           Tartrazine
Labeled as Product of China        6/18/01

Shipper:
Ka Wo Trading Co., Ltd.
1 STMO Ferreira Do Amural, Rua
Va Tai, No. 12 R/C
Macau
FEI #3003297032

Tartrazine is certifiable as FD&C Yellow No.5.  This color additive is not
permitted unless it comes from an FDA-certified batch.

                    TAIWAN (TW)

Ging Ta Fong Co., Ltd              Green Tea Melon Seeds    Tartrazine
No. 63, Da Fong Rd.           23K[][]05           Brilliant Blue FCF
 Sec. 3, Da Li Hsien               10/2/01
Taichung, Taiwan
FEI #3002927100


                    VIETNAM (VN, 945)

Gia Minh Co., Ltd.            Melon Seeds              Rhodamine B
B3/10A, Route 1A                   23K[][]05
Binh Chanh Dist.                   02/27/01
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
FEI #3002895097

Rhodamine B is formerly certifiable as D&C Red No. 19.  This color additive is
not permitted in foods.

Golden Ocean Enterprises Co., Ltd  Melon Seeds              Rhodamine B
28/21 A Cach Mang Thang Tam St.    23K[][]05
Tan Binh District                  4/13/01             Orange II;
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam                              a color additive
FEI #3000161134                                        resembling
                                                  Ponceau 4R



Himing Co., Ltd                    Melon Seeds              Rhodamine B,
99 Tran Van Cham St.               23K[][]05           and Orange II
Tan Thong Hoi Village              4/17/06
Cu Chi District
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
FEI #3003832946

Lucky Shing Enterprise Co., Ltd    Melon Seeds              Rhodamine B
579 Quoc Lo An Loc Village         23K[][]05
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam          4/13/01
FEI #3001757812

Rhodamine B (C.I. 45170, formerly certifiable as D&C Red No. 19) is not permitted
on food products.


Nam Phong Trd. Co.            Melon Seeds         Rhodamine B
  Aka Doanh Nghiep Tu Nhan         23K- -05
  Thuong Mai Nam Phong (mfg site)  6/6/03
6 to 11 Flat E. Binh Phu Road
Dist. 6
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
FEI #3003346407


Sunimex Co.                         Red melon seeds         D&C Red #19
71-79 Dong Khoi Street, Dist 1      6/3/97             6/4/97
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
FEI# 1000499532

Viet Nam Food Industries Company   Melon Seeds              Azorubine
6/18 Cach Mang Thang 8 St.         23K- - 05
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam          3/25/02
3000191305


**Attachment C to Import Alert #23-02             October 23, 1997

List of Shippers/Manufacturers Exempt From Detention Withour Physical
Examination

Packer/Shipper                     Product             Problem

Agrisales Limited                  Melon Seeds         Aflatoxin
Royal Oak House                    23K[][]05
45A Porchester Road
London
United Kingdom
FEI #1000175025
MID #GBAGRLIM45LON***


  (OFFICE)
Leading Star Trading Co.           Red Melon Seeds
Rm 1703 Wayson Commercial          23K[][]05
Building                      10/23/97
28 Connaught Rd. West
Hong Kong
FEI #3000257007

(FACTORY)
Leading Star Trading Co.
42 Hebin Road
Daze, Xinhui,
Guangdong, China (Mainland)
FEI #3001121960



Limited to melons seed shipments from Sudan.