FDA refusal charge STD IDENT: not to standard of identity
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The STD IDENT charge appeared in 131 FDA import refusals between 2020 and 2026 — 0.5% 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 Italy, Mexico, Guatemala. The most-affected product category is Macaroni and Noodle Products. Volume in 2025 was up 23% on 2024.
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What FDA's charge says
STD IDENT 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) of the FD&C Act in that it appears to be misbranded within the meaning of Section 403(g)(1) of the FD&C Act in that the article purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity have been prescribed by regulations as provided by section 401 of the FD&C Act and the article does not conform to such definition and standard.
STD IDENT refusals by year
| Year | Refusals | YoY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 52 | — | |
| 2021 | 12 | -76.9% | |
| 2022 | 7 | -41.7% | |
| 2023 | 10 | +42.9% | |
| 2024 | 13 | +30.0% | |
| 2025 | 16 | +23.1% | |
| 2026 | 21 | — | YTD |
| Total | 131 |
Origins most often refused under STD IDENT
| # | Origin country | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 44 |
| 2 | Mexico | 12 |
| 3 | Guatemala | 10 |
| 4 | China | 7 |
| 5 | Nigeria | 5 |
| 6 | Myanmar | 3 |
| 7 | Vietnam | 3 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 2 |
| 9 | Canada | 2 |
| 10 | Ecuador | 2 |
| 11 | France | 2 |
| 12 | Germany | 2 |
| 13 | Indonesia | 2 |
| 14 | Israel | 2 |
| 15 | Pakistan | 2 |
| 16 | Poland | 2 |
| 17 | Taiwan | 2 |
| 18 | Afghanistan | 1 |
| 19 | Argentina | 1 |
| 20 | Australia | 1 |
| 21 | Brazil | 1 |
| 22 | Bulgaria | 1 |
| 23 | Dominican Republic | 1 |
| 24 | Egypt | 1 |
| 25 | El Salvador | 1 |
| 26 | Fiji | 1 |
| 27 | Ghana | 1 |
| 28 | Guyana | 1 |
| 29 | Hong Kong | 1 |
| 30 | India | 1 |
Product categories refused under STD IDENT
| # | Product category | Refusals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macaroni and Noodle Products | 48 |
| 2 | Fishery/Seafood Products | 15 |
| 3 | Fruit and Fruit Products | 14 |
| 4 | Soft Drinks and Waters | 10 |
| 5 | Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings | 8 |
| 6 | Vegetables and Vegetable Products | 8 |
| 7 | Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans | 8 |
| 8 | Candy Without Chocolate, Candy Specialties, and Chewing Gum | 3 |
| 9 | Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base) | 3 |
| 10 | Vegetable Oils (Includes Olive Oil) | 2 |
| 11 | Cheese and Cheese Products | 1 |
| 12 | Chocolate and Cocoa Products | 1 |
| 13 | Coffee and Tea | 1 |
| 14 | Dietary Conventional Foods and Meal Replacements | 1 |
| 15 | Dressings and Condiments | 1 |
Latest refusals citing STD IDENT
- U72-0540747-2 TORTILLASFrom Mexico, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityno manufacturer nameno net quantity+1 more
- U72-0540776-1 TORTILLASFrom Mexico, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityno manufacturer nameno net quantity+2 more
- 826-0254355-3 SOFT DRINK, SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Guatemala, Soft Drinks and Waters. color not declaredingredients not listedfalse or misleading labelnot in English+3 more
- 826-0255089-7 SOFT DRINK, CITRUS FRUIT FLAVORED, NONCARBONATEDFrom Guatemala, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additiveingredients not listednot to standard of identitynot in English+3 more
- 8Q4-0009450-9 SOFT DRINK, CITRUS FRUIT FLAVORED, CARBONATEDFrom Guatemala, Soft Drinks and Waters. unsafe color additivenot to standard of identityno net quantitynot in English+3 more
- N56-0051180-6 HAKE, HOT SMOKED, FISHFrom Nigeria, Fishery/Seafood Products. flavor not declaredno common namelabelingnutrition labeling+6 more
- BNI-0146958-2 TAPIOCA STARCH PRODUCTFrom Ghana, Whole Grains, Milled Grain Products, and Starch. not to standard of identityundeclared allergennutrition labelinglabeling
- 8B4-0012623-9 CODFrom Nigeria, Fishery/Seafood Products. ingredients not listedlabelingnot to standard of identitynutrition labeling
- U72-0540644-1 TORTILLASFrom Mexico, Bakery Products, Doughs, Bakery Mixes, and Icings. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityno manufacturer nameno net quantity+1 more
- 8DU-1816855-9 SARDINES (BRISLING, SPRATS, PILCHARDS, ETC.)From Tanzania, Fishery/Seafood Products. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityno manufacturer nameno net quantity+3 more
- 823-0224107-8 GROUPERSFrom Senegal, Fishery/Seafood Products. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityno manufacturer nameno net quantity+1 more
- H67-1714657-4 HERBALS & BOTANICALS (NOT TEAS), N.E.C.From India, Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Unconventional Dietary Specialties for Humans. ingredients not listednot to standard of identity
- 8B4-0012348-3 CASSAVA, DRIED OR PASTEFrom Nigeria, Vegetables and Vegetable Products. ingredients not listednot to standard of identitylabeling
- 9DH-0080671-6 CARBONATED SOFT DRINK, N.E.C.From China, Soft Drinks and Waters. color not declarednot in Englishunsafe color additiveno standard name+1 more
- HK1-2505194-4 FISH MAW, FISHERY PRODUCTS, N.E.C.From Vietnam, Fishery/Seafood Products. filthnot to standard of identity
- BDD-6710595-3 SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUIT, TOPPING OR SYRUP, N.E.C.From Indonesia, Fruit and Fruit Products. ingredients not listednot to standard of identityfalse or misleading labelnutrition labeling+2 more
- 823-0221512-2 CORN CHIPS, FRIEDFrom Hong Kong, Snack Food Items (Flour, Meal, or Vegetable Base). not to standard of identitymelamine
- WGB-2602127-6 CHOCOLATE CANDY PIECES, WITHOUT NUTS AND FRUITFrom Brazil, Chocolate and Cocoa Products. not to standard of identitynot in Englishno common namelabeling+1 more
- 84A-0100366-7 MILK AND CREAM, N.E.C.From United Arab Emirates, Milk, Butter, and Dried Milk Products. not to standard of identitylabel not conspicuousno common namenutrition labeling+1 more
- KM6-3667284-2 CHILI SAUCEFrom Philippines, Multiple Food Dinners, Gravies, Sauces, and Specialties (Total Diet). not to standard of identityno standard name
About STD IDENT
What does the FDA import refusal charge STD IDENT mean?
FDA uses STD IDENT for: not to standard of identity. Its published charge language reads: “The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act in that it appears to be misbranded within the meaning of Section 403(g)(1) of the FD&C Act in that the article purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity have been prescribed by regulations as provided by section 401 of the FD&C Act and the article does not conform to such definition and standard.”
Is STD IDENT a food safety finding?
No. STD IDENT 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 STD IDENT?
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.