FDA refusal charge HISTAMINE: histamine
← All charge codes Histamine Dashboard
The HISTAMINE charge appeared in 150 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.8% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are Senegal, Indonesia, Vietnam. The most-affected product category is Fishery/Seafood Products. Volume in 2025 was up 157% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
HISTAMINE is the code FDA prints on a refusal; below is the charge language FDA publishes for it, quoted from its charge table, with the sections of the FD&C Act it cites.
The article appears to bear or contain histamine, a poisonous and deleterious substance in such quantity as ordinarily renders it injurious to health.
HISTAMINE refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12 | — | |
| 2021 | 24 | +100.0% | |
| 2022 | 15 | -37.5% | |
| 2023 | 13 | -13.3% | |
| 2024 | 21 | +61.5% | |
| 2025 | 54 | +157.1% | |
| 2026 | 11 | — | YTD |
| Total | 150 |
Origins most often refused under HISTAMINE
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal | 63 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 29 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 15 |
| 4 | Ecuador | 11 |
| 5 | Mozambique | 8 |
| 6 | Thailand | 4 |
| 7 | Costa Rica | 3 |
| 8 | Brazil | 2 |
| 9 | China | 2 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 2 |
| 11 | Panama | 2 |
| 12 | Philippines | 2 |
| 13 | Yemen | 2 |
| 14 | Guyana | 1 |
| 15 | Morocco | 1 |
| 16 | Sri Lanka | 1 |
| 17 | Suriname | 1 |
| 18 | United Arab Emirates | 1 |
Product categories refused under HISTAMINE
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 150 |
Latest refusals citing HISTAMINE
- E4P-0103355-4 CORVINAFrom Suriname, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- CDX-0091791-6 MAHI MAHIFrom Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilth
- D97-2307351-3 MAHI MAHIFrom Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminenutrition labeling
- 224-5109727-7 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- 406-0622030-5 GROUPERSFrom Vietnam, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- 8HH-0000458-7 SOLEFrom China, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- CDX-0091347-7 MAHI MAHIFrom Vietnam, Fishery/Seafood Products. filthhistamine
- 224-5105052-4 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilth
- 406-0618469-1 GROUPERSFrom United Arab Emirates, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- AFF-2018356-2 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Indonesia, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- N5D-2500164-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- N5D-2502637-8 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamine
- N5D-2502600-6 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamineinadequate process control
- N5D-2502633-7 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamineinadequate process control
- N5D-2503073-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilthinadequate process control
- N5D-2502167-6 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamineinadequate process control
- N5D-2503153-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histamineinadequate process control
- N5D-2502634-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilth
- AEK-7507404-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilth
- AEK-7519204-5 TUNA (ALBACORE, YELLOWFIN, BLUEFIN, SKIPJACK, ETC.)From Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. histaminefilth
About HISTAMINE
What does the FDA import refusal charge HISTAMINE mean?
FDA uses HISTAMINE for: histamine. Its published charge language reads: “The article appears to bear or contain histamine, a poisonous and deleterious substance in such quantity as ordinarily renders it injurious to health.”
Is HISTAMINE a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts HISTAMINE as a hazard finding, so a refusal citing it is on the hazard side of the hazard and paperwork split, whatever else the refusal cites.
What happens to a shipment refused under HISTAMINE?
Under section 801(a) of the FD&C Act a refused entry has to be exported or destroyed, normally within 90 days of the notice of refusal. Bringing a product into compliance, for instance by relabelling, is something the importer asks FDA for before the decision is final. The notice itself and FDA's guidance govern a particular case; this page describes the published data and is not legal advice.