Santa Cruz Produce, Inc.

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WARNING LETTER

March 8, 2023

Re: CMS # 652068

Dear Ms. Lopez,

On November 14, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration conducted a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) inspection of your firm Sana Cruz Produce, Inc., located at 30 Old Tucson Rd Ste 3, Nogales, Az 85621-3920. We also conducted an inspection on August 9 through August 24, 2021. These inspections were conducted to determine compliance with the requirements of section 805 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 384a) and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) implementing regulation in 21 CFR part 1 subpart L.

The FSVP regulation requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that human and/or animal food they import into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards. You may find information relating to the FSVP regulation and your responsibilities to comply with the regulation through links in FDA’s FSVP web page at https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-foreign-supplier- verification-programs-fsvp-importers-food-humans-and-animals.

During the most recent inspection, we found that you are not in compliance with the requirements of 21 CFR part 1, subpart L for the foods you import. Because of this significant violation, you are not in compliance with section 805 of the FD&C Act.

At the conclusion of the inspection, our investigator provided you with Form FDA 483a FSVP Observations. During the close-out meeting, you told our investigator that you understand your deficiencies and would respond within 15 business days. We have not received your response to the Form FDA 483a issued on November 14, 2022.

Your significant violation of the FSVP regulation are as follows:

You did not develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP as required by section 805 of the FD&C Act and 21 CFR part 1.502(a). Specifically, your firm did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following:

  a. Fresh Mango, imported from (b)(4)
  b. Fresh Kabocha Squash, imported from (b)(4)
  c. Fresh Kabocha Squash, imported from (b)(4)

The above violations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations of the FSVP requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with section 805 of the FD&C Act and the implementing regulation in 21 CFR part 1 subpart L.

(b)(3)(A)

As a responsible official of a facility that manufactures/processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States, you are responsible for ensuring that your overall operation and the products you distribute are in compliance with the law.

(b)(3)(A)

This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. If you do not adequately address this matter, we may take further action. For instance, we may take action under section 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 381(a)(3)) to refuse admission of the food you import which appear to be in violation of section 805. We may place these foods you import into the United States on detention without physical examination (DWPE) when you import the products. You can find DWPE information relating to FSVP in Import Alert #99-41 at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/ialist.html. In addition, the importation or offering for importation into the United States of an article of food without the importer having an FSVP that meets the requirements of section 805 of the FD&C Act or the FSVP regulation is prohibited under section 301(zz) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 331(zz)).

You should respond in writing within fifteen (15) working days from your receipt of this letter. Your response should address the specific things you are doing to correct any violations. You should include in your response documentation and information that would assist us in evaluating your corrections, (e.g., documentation of changes you made, such as a copy of your FSVP, records to demonstrate implementation of your FSVP), and any additional information that you wish to supply relevant to your compliance with the FSVP regulation. If you believe that you are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration. If you cannot complete all corrections within 15 working days, you should explain the reason for your delay and state when you will correct any remaining violations.

Please send your reply to the Food and Drug Administration, Attention: Ernesto Barba, Compliance Officer, Division of Southwest Imports, 9777 Via de las Amistad, Room 131, San Diego, CA 92154. If you have any questions regarding this any letter, you may contact Compliance Officer Ernesto Barba via email at Ernesto.Barba@fda.hhs.gov. Please reference CMS # 652068 on any documents or records you provide to us and/ or within the subject line of any email correspondence you send to us.

Sincerely,
/S/

Todd Cato
Division of Southwest Imports Director
One Main Place
1201 Main Street, Suite 7200
Dallas, TX 75202