"Detention Without Physical Examination of Melon Seeds"

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.

***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of the specified melon seed products offered for entry from those firms listed in the Red List below due to the presence of aflatoxin.

***Detain without physical examination*** all shipments of red melon seeds offered for entry from the the following countries due to the presence of illegal color additives.
Sudan (SD, 835)
PROC (CN, 280)
Hong Kong (HK, 435)
Thailand (TH, 875)


***Shippers exempted from the requirements of this import are listed in the Green List***

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

Melon seeds

"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)]"

OASIS charge code - AFLATOXIN

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)]."

OASIS charge code - UNSAFE COL

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)]."

OASIS charge code - FILTHY