FDA refusal charge PRESRV LBL: preservative not declared
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The PRESRV LBL charge appeared in 60 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.2% of all 26,358 US import refusals. The charge is a labelling or registration failure, not a hazard found in the product. The origins cited most often are Mexico, China, India. The most-affected product category is Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). Volume in 2025 was up 162% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
PRESRV LBL 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 contain a chemical preservative and it fails to bear labeling stating that fact including its function.
PRESRV LBL refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | — | |
| 2021 | 5 | -16.7% | |
| 2022 | 5 | +0.0% | |
| 2023 | 10 | +100.0% | |
| 2024 | 8 | -20.0% | |
| 2025 | 21 | +162.5% | |
| 2026 | 5 | — | YTD |
| Total | 60 |
Origins most often refused under PRESRV LBL
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 19 |
| 2 | China | 10 |
| 3 | India | 5 |
| 4 | Vietnam | 4 |
| 5 | Russia | 3 |
| 6 | Canada | 2 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 2 |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | 2 |
| 9 | South Korea | 2 |
| 10 | - | 1 |
| 11 | Croatia | 1 |
| 12 | Egypt | 1 |
| 13 | Guyana | 1 |
| 14 | Israel | 1 |
| 15 | Jamaica | 1 |
| 16 | Jordan | 1 |
| 17 | Myanmar | 1 |
| 18 | Philippines | 1 |
| 19 | Sweden | 1 |
| 20 | Tanzania | 1 |
Product categories refused under PRESRV LBL
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 14 |
| 2 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 9 |
| 3 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 6 |
| 4 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 5 |
| 5 | Beverage Bases | 5 |
| 6 | Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet) | 5 |
| 7 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 4 |
| 8 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 3 |
| 9 | Spices, Flavors, and Salts | 3 |
| 10 | Cheese and Cheese Products | 2 |
| 11 | Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 1 |
| 12 | Dressings and Condiments | 1 |
| 13 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 1 |
| 14 | Nuts and Edible Seeds | 1 |
Latest refusals citing PRESRV LBL
- EVJ-1265443-3 MIXED SPICES AND SEASONINGS, LIQUID, WITH SALT, N.E.C.From South Korea, Spices, Flavors, and Salts. ingredients not listedpreservative not declaredno common nameinsanitary handling
- 037-0003430-3 MANGO, JUICE, MILK, CREME, DRINK OR NECTAR, SUB/TROPICAL FRUITFrom Saudi Arabia, Fruit and Fruit Products. ingredients not listedfalse or misleading labelpreservative not declaredno manufacturer name+4 more
- 9DH-0077576-2 JELLIED CANDY, SOFT (JELLY BEANS, GUM DROPS, ETC.), WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Canada, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. unsafe color additivecolor not declaredno net quantitynutrition labeling+5 more
- EVJ-1250012-3 FLAVORED CANDY, SOFT (LIVE SAVERS, ETC.), WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUIT (WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)From Sweden, Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum. color not declaredpreservative not declaredno net quantitynutrition labeling+1 more
- KM6-3660753-3 AMLA, SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, JUICES, MILK, CREME, DRINKS AND NECTARSFrom India, Fruit and Fruit Products. ingredients not listedpreservative not declaredno net quantitynot in English
- 9DH-0072863-9 FRUIT COCTAIL, MIXED FRUIT, JUICES OR CONCENTRATESFrom Saudi Arabia, Fruit and Fruit Products. unsafe color additiveingredients not listedcolor not declaredpreservative not declared+4 more
- 8MH-0105969-6 MIXED FRUIT, JUICES OR CONCENTRATES N.E.C.,From Mexico, Fruit and Fruit Products. unsafe color additiveingredients not listedunsafe food additivelabel not conspicuous+3 more
- BJG-0197042-4 MIXED FRUIT FLAVORED IMITATION FRUITFrom Mexico, Fruit and Fruit Products. unsafe color additivecolor not declarednutrition labelingingredients not listed+2 more
- BJG-0194516-0 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuouscolor not declared+3 more
- 349-2070487-0 CARBONATED SOFT DRINK, N.E.C.From China, Soft Drinks and Waters. melamineno process filingingredients not listedflavor not declared+6 more
- 349-2070442-5 CAKE WITHOUT CUSTARD OR CREAM FILLINGFrom China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listedflavor not declaredpreservative not declaredno net quantity+5 more
- NDS-3100366-3 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuousfalse or misleading label+4 more
- MW6-0063387-2 SAUCES, N.E.C.From Jamaica, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). ingredients not listedpreservative not declarednutrition labeling
- 224-3644845-4 CRACKERS (NON FILLED) N.E.C.From China, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. preservative not declaredno common namenutrition labeling
- BJG-0188103-5 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuouscolor not declared+2 more
- DP4-3832090-6 CHEESE, PASTEURIZED, PROCESS (STANDARDIZED)From Egypt, Cheese and Cheese Products. ingredients not listednot to standard of identitypreservative not declaredno net quantity+2 more
- 8MH-0103797-3 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuouscolor not declared+2 more
- BJG-0187454-3 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). unsafe color additiveingredients not listedlabel not conspicuouscolor not declared+2 more
- BJG-0186977-4 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). no net quantitynot in Englishnutrition labelingunsafe color additive+4 more
- 8MH-0103725-4 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Mexico, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). color not declaredpreservative not declarednot in Englishnutrition labeling
About PRESRV LBL
What does the FDA import refusal charge PRESRV LBL mean?
FDA uses PRESRV LBL for: preservative not declared. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to contain a chemical preservative and it fails to bear labeling stating that fact including its function.”
Is PRESRV LBL a food safety finding?
No. PRESRV LBL is a labelling or registration failure: the charge is about the label, the filing or the paperwork, not a hazard found in the product. A refusal citing it alone is counted as paperwork on this site.
What happens to a shipment refused under PRESRV LBL?
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.