ASTA Member Briefing: FDA’s New Import Certification Requirement for Certain Indonesian Spices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will begin requiring “import certificates” for all spices originating from the Indonesian Island of Java and Lampung Province on the Island of Sumatra due to the potential risk of contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), effective October 31, 2025.

ASTA convened a member briefing to discuss FDA’s new requirement. This presentation was for members only and held virtually. It was not recorded, however, the FAQ's are available in the Resource Library.

During the session, officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided a briefing on what is known so far regarding the investigation of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in spices from Indonesia and an overview of the agency's new import certification requirement for all spices from certain regions in Indonesia. Additionally, ASTA's Executive Director Laura Shumow and ASTA’s General Counsel, Maile Gradison of Hogan Lovells discussed how this will impact companies importing spices from Indonesia and the Association’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with key government and industry stakeholders on this issue. Participants will have an opportunity to raise questions and concerns.