Import Alerts & Refusals Involving Color Additive Violations

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act authorizes FDA to detain a regulated product that appears to be out of compliance with the Act. Color additive violations are one reason for such detentions.

The purpose of an Import Alert is to identify and disseminate import information (problems, violative trends, etc.) to FDA personnel, thus providing for more uniform and effective import coverage. Import Alerts identify problem commodities and/or shippers and provide guidance for import coverage. They also identify products or shippers that have met the criteria for Detention Without Physical Examination.

Import Refusals and Import Alerts involving color additives are listed on FDA's Web site according to the product category in which the color additive violation occurs.

To learn what products have been detained upon entry into the U.S., check FDA's list of Import Refusals, which is updated monthly.

For your convenience, we have provided links to color-related Import Alerts below. We review this list regularly to keep it up to date; however, we recommend that you also access FDA's Import Alert Web page to make sure you have the latest information on this subject.

• Detention Without Physical Examination of Illegal Shipments of Dial Soap Manufactured in Foreign Countries 
• Detention Without Physical Examination and Increased Surveillance of Dried Fruits 
• Detention Without Physical Examination of Henna Based Skin Color
• Detention Without Physical Examination and Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors
• Automatic Detention of Cosmetics Containing Illegal Colors
• Automatic Detention of Eye Area Cosmetics Containing Kohl, Kahal, or Surma
• Intensified Coverage of Temporary Tattoos Containing Non-Permitted Color Additives and/or Failing to Bear Ingredient Declarations
• Automatic Detention of Eyelash and Eyebrow Dyes Containing Coal Tar Dyes
• Automatic Detention of Black Hair Cream from the Dominican Republic
• Automatic Detention of Oral Tanning Tablets
• Detention Without Physical Examination of Melon Seeds