FDA refusal charge PESTICIDE: pesticide residue
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The PESTICIDE charge appeared in 3,895 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 20.4% of the 19,123 refusals that identify a hazard. The origins cited most often are Mexico, India, China. The most-affected product category is Vegetables and Vegetable Products. Volume in 2025 was up 2% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
PESTICIDE 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 is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to bear or contain a pesticide chemical residue, which causes the article to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act. Bears or contains:
PESTICIDE refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 395 | — | |
| 2021 | 272 | -31.1% | |
| 2022 | 437 | +60.7% | |
| 2023 | 662 | +51.5% | |
| 2024 | 805 | +21.6% | |
| 2025 | 821 | +2.0% | |
| 2026 | 503 | — | YTD |
| Total | 3,895 |
Origins most often refused under PESTICIDE
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 1,032 |
| 2 | India | 637 |
| 3 | China | 316 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 187 |
| 5 | Canada | 180 |
| 6 | Vietnam | 137 |
| 7 | Guatemala | 127 |
| 8 | Chile | 94 |
| 9 | Dominican Republic | 91 |
| 10 | Peru | 83 |
| 11 | Thailand | 79 |
| 12 | Egypt | 77 |
| 13 | Colombia | 65 |
| 14 | Turkey | 60 |
| 15 | Afghanistan | 56 |
| 16 | Costa Rica | 40 |
| 17 | El Salvador | 34 |
| 18 | Hong Kong | 34 |
| 19 | South Korea | 33 |
| 20 | Brazil | 31 |
| 21 | Ecuador | 27 |
| 22 | Myanmar | 21 |
| 23 | Nicaragua | 21 |
| 24 | Saudi Arabia | 21 |
| 25 | Bangladesh | 20 |
| 26 | Australia | 19 |
| 27 | Argentina | 18 |
| 28 | Honduras | 18 |
| 29 | Italy | 18 |
| 30 | United Arab Emirates | 18 |
Product categories refused under PESTICIDE
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 1,864 |
| 2 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 937 |
| 3 | Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch | 576 |
| 4 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 228 |
| 5 | Vegetable Oils (Includes Olive Oil) | 58 |
| 6 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 57 |
| 7 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 39 |
| 8 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 36 |
| 9 | Coffee and Tea | 16 |
| 10 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 13 |
| 11 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 12 |
| 12 | Cereal Preparations, Breakfast Foods | 10 |
| 13 | Vegetable Protein Products (Simulated Meats) | 9 |
| 14 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 7 |
| 15 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 7 |
Latest refusals citing PESTICIDE
- 96E-0143720-4 DATES (PIT FRUIT), (PIT FRUIT)From Peru, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residue
- KM6-3684147-0 RICE, BASMATI, PROCESSED (PACKAGED)From Pakistan, Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch. pesticide residue
- KM6-3686074-4 RAISINS, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Afghanistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residuefilth
- 8MH-0083041-0 PRICKLE PEAR (CORE FRUIT)From Mexico, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residue
- BYX-0316381-7 RADISH (ROOT & TUBER VEGETABLE)From Mexico, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- 8N5-0028250-5 LENTILS, DRIED OR PASTEFrom India, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- NGK-2602500-5 YAMS (ROOT & TUBER VEGETABLE)From China, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- B9A-0130785-7 CELERY (LEAF & STEM VEGETABLE)From Mexico, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- KM6-3676853-3 RAISINS, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Afghanistan, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residue
- E84-0125499-8 FRUITS USED AS VEGETABLES, N.E.C.From El Salvador, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- 176-1052821-2 PEPPER, HOT, N.E.C. (FRUIT USED AS VEGETABLE)From Dominican Republic, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- J19-0082610-5 RICE, BASMATI, PROCESSED (PACKAGED)From India, Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch. pesticide residue
- J19-0082873-9 RICE, BASMATI, PROCESSED (PACKAGED)From India, Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch. pesticide residue
- 256-0426333-2 PEPPER, SWEET (FRUIT USED AS VEGETABLE)From Dominican Republic, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- AZR-0001961-3 OLIVES, BLACK, (PIT FRUIT)From Turkey, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residue
- 9L9-0255597-3 SCALLIONS, GREEN ONIONS (ROOT & TUBER VEGETABLE)From Mexico, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- DR4-0710485-7 PRICKLE PEAR (CORE FRUIT)From Mexico, Fruit and Fruit Products. pesticide residue
- CIU-5316512-6 MUNG BEAN, DRIED OR PASTEFrom India, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residue
- BNI-0150355-4 RICE, PROCESSED (PACKAGED) N.E.C.From South Africa, Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch. pesticide residueno process filing
- WRT-1818683-5 LENTILSFrom India, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. pesticide residuenutrition labeling
About PESTICIDE
What does the FDA import refusal charge PESTICIDE mean?
FDA uses PESTICIDE for: pesticide residue. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to bear or contain a pesticide chemical residue, which causes the article to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act. Bears or contains:”
Is PESTICIDE a food safety finding?
Yes. This site counts PESTICIDE 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 PESTICIDE?
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.