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21 CFR 1.276–1.285

FDA Prior Notice for food shipped from China

Food shipped from China to the United States needs FDA Prior Notice before it arrives: 4 hours ahead by air or courier, 8 hours by sea, and before sending by international mail (21 CFR 1.279). In 2025-10 to 2026-09, FDA refused 2,749 import lines from China (all product types). We file Prior Notice for you from $25.

Deadlines

• Air and express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): at least 4 hours before arrival
• Sea: at least 8 hours before arrival
• International mail: before sending; write the confirmation number on the CN22/CN23
• Earliest: 15 days before arrival

Samples and trade-show goods are not exempt.

FDA food import data for China

Most refused food categories

• Import Alert 16-129: Detention Without Physical Examination of Seafood Products Due to Nitrofurans
• Import Alert 16-39: Detention Without Physical Examination of Ready-to-Eat Seafood for Listeria monocytogenes
• Import Alert 45-02: Detention Without Physical Examination and Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors.
• Import Alert 45-06: Detention without Physical Examination of Stevia Leaves, Crude Extracts of Stevia Leaves and foods Containing Stevia Leaves and/or Stevia Extracts

How US Agent Desk files it

Enter your shipment in your language, approve exactly what will be filed, and we file it in FDA's Prior Notice System and email you and your courier the confirmation number. You remain responsible for the data. Not customs or legal advice.

File a Prior Notice Deadline calculator

Independent private service. Not affiliated with FDA or CBP. Not legal or customs advice.