US FSVP: Indonesian Seafood Suppliers 2025 Essential Guide

A plug-and-play FSVP antibiotic testing plan for Indonesian farmed shrimp in 2025. What to test, how often to sample by risk tier, which lab methods and detection limits to require, what your COA must include, and the exact records to keep for first-shipment readiness.

If we had to onboard a new Indonesian shrimp supplier next month and pass an FDA FSVP inspection, this is the exact antibiotic testing system we’d run. It’s the same approach we use when preparing export programs for buyers who can’t afford surprises at the port.

The 3 pillars of a compliant shrimp antibiotic plan

Risk-driven verification. Start with a hazard analysis focused on aquaculture drug residues. Rate supplier risk using country/product history, farm controls, and FDA enforcement trends. Indonesia is not universally high risk, but shrimp from Southeast Asia attracts FDA attention for nitrofurans and chloramphenicol.
A hold-and-release sampling program. Don’t distribute product until third-party LC-MS/MS results say “not detected” at market-appropriate limits. We see the fastest clearances when importers sample properly and keep airtight chain-of-custody.
Bulletproof documentation. A good COA plus the records behind it. If your detection limits, sampling method, or lot linkage are vague, inspectors will probe.

This leads us to the practical build-out.

Week 1–2: Onboard the supplier and lock your test specs

Here’s the thing. Most programs stumble before the first shipment because specs aren’t clear.

Confirm what to test. For Indonesian farmed shrimp under FSVP, we recommend routine testing for: chloramphenicol and nitrofuran metabolites AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, and SEM. Some buyers also add quinolones, but the core US risk signal is still these banned drugs.
Set detection limits with your lab. We require LC-MS/MS with LOQ at or better than: chloramphenicol ≤ 0.3 ppb (µg/kg) and each nitrofuran metabolite ≤ 0.5–1.0 ppb. Zero tolerance applies, so you need sensitive methods. Ask for decision limits and confirmatory ion ratios in the report.
Choose the lab. FDA doesn’t “approve” labs, so pick ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs validated for shrimp matrix, with documented LOQ/LOD, stable TAT (3–5 business days), and a clear chain-of-custody protocol.
Define your composite sampling SOP. For IQF shrimp, collect about 1 kg per lot as a composite from at least 10 retail packs or production units across the pallet pattern. For block-frozen, take cores from 5 distinct blocks, then composite to 500–1000 g. Keep subsamples frozen, label with lot, seal number, and carton IDs.
Hold-and-release rules. Keep the lot under your control until the COA returns “not detected.” Decide who can authorize release and how you link the COA to the inventory lot in your ERP.
Align documents. Gather farm declarations on drug use, feed controls, and water treatments. BKIPM health certificates are helpful, but they don’t replace FSVP verification. Your importer record must stand on its own.

If you want our sampling plan template and COA checklist we use with buyers in the US, reach out via WhatsApp. We’ll tailor it to your pack style and ports of entry.

Week 3–6: First shipments (your MVP) and tight execution

I’ve found that your first five clean shipments earn trust with both FDA and your customers. Here’s the cadence we run.

Test frequency during onboarding. Test every lot for the first 5 shipments from a new Indonesian shrimp supplier. If multiple lots per container, test each lot. Risk is concentrated at the lot level.
Sample size per lot. As a default, one composite per lot is acceptable if your composite covers at least 10 unique packages or 5 separate blocks dispersed across the load. For very large lots (>10 MT), add a second composite.
Chain-of-custody. Photograph sampling, record carton IDs, seal numbers, and pallet positions. Have the sampler sign and date custody forms. Labs should reject samples without intact seals or proper temp.
COA timelines. A responsive LC-MS/MS lab reports in 3–5 business days. Build that into distribution ETA. Don’t be tempted to “soft release.” That’s when detentions happen.

Where pre-export testing helps. If your Indonesian partner runs LC-MS/MS pre-shipment with an ISO 17025 lab and matching LOQs, you can shorten US hold time. Many importers still do US spot checks in parallel for the first 5 shipments to verify independence. We support both models for our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught) programs when buyers request it.

Week 7–12: Scale and optimize the verification frequency

Assuming five clean shipments and stable supplier performance, step down carefully.

Risk-tier testing frequency we use:
- High risk or new supplier: test 100% of lots for first 5 shipments.
- Moderate risk with clean history: test 1 in 3 lots for the next 6 months.
- Low risk after 12 months clean: test 1 in 5 lots, and re-trigger to 100% after any non-conformance.
When to add on-site audits. Audits are powerful when you want to reduce testing further. They should verify broodstock sourcing, veterinary oversight, feed records, withdrawal periods, and water treatment controls. Testing remains your frontline verification for banned antibiotics.
Ongoing review. Quarterly trending by supplier, farm cluster, and size grade. Most positives we’ve seen over the years cluster by farm region and pre-harvest stress periods. Scale your sampling where the risk concentrates.

Practical takeaway: tie frequency to results, not the calendar. One positive result resets the clock.

The 5 mistakes that sink shrimp FSVP programs

Accepting COAs without LOQ, method, or analyte list. If the COA doesn’t spell out LC-MS/MS LOQs for chloramphenicol and each nitrofuran metabolite, it won’t satisfy an FDA inspector.
Relying on BKIPM certificates alone. Helpful, but they’re not FSVP verification.
Weak sampling. Pulling from a single carton, not a representative composite. FDA sees through this quickly.
Releasing before results. “We’ll recall if needed” is not a plan. It’s a violation risk.
No lot trace. If you can’t link COA to lot to pallet to invoice, you’re exposed.

The targeted FAQ importers keep asking us

Which antibiotics should I test Indonesian farmed shrimp for under FSVP?

At minimum: chloramphenicol and nitrofuran metabolites AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, and SEM. That’s where US enforcement remains focused. Add quinolones only if your risk analysis calls for it.

How often should I sample each lot when onboarding a new Indonesian shrimp supplier?

Test 100% of lots for the first 5 shipments. Use one composite per lot covering at least 10 distinct packages for IQF or 5 blocks for block-frozen, ~1 kg composite total. For very large lots, add a second composite.

Does a BKIPM health certificate satisfy FSVP antibiotic verification?

No. It’s supportive, not substitutive. FSVP puts the verification duty on the US importer. You still need your own hazard analysis, sampling/testing, and COA review records.

What detection limits should my lab use for chloramphenicol and nitrofurans in shrimp?

Require LC-MS/MS with LOQ at or below: chloramphenicol ≤ 0.3 ppb and each nitrofuran metabolite ≤ 0.5–1.0 ppb. Results should read “not detected” at those LOQs, with confirmatory transitions.

How do I check if my supplier or product is on FDA Import Alert 16-124?

Go to FDA’s Import Alerts page and open “16-124 Detention Without Physical Examination of Aquaculture Seafood Products Due to Unapproved Drugs.” Use the country filter for Indonesia and search by firm name or product. If a firm is on the Red List, shipments may be detained without physical exam until you meet the alert’s requirements and pursue removal.

What must a COA include to pass an FDA FSVP inspection for shrimp residues?

We use this COA review checklist:

Product identity: species, form, size grade, country, lot/batch, production date.
Sampling: date, location, method (composite details), who sampled, chain-of-custody.
Lab: name, address, ISO/IEC 17025 scope for shrimp, report date, authorized signatory.
Method: LC-MS/MS, analytes listed individually (chloramphenicol, AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM), LOQ per analyte, units in ppb.
Results: numerical results and “not detected” language tied to LOQ, pass/fail statement against US requirements.
Traceability: your PO/container/seal numbers and sample ID that matches your lot.

What corrective actions are required if a shrimp lot tests positive for antibiotics?

Keep the lot on hold. Do not distribute.
Confirm result with the lab’s confirmatory analysis if not already performed.
Notify stakeholders and evaluate regulatory status. If entry was made, coordinate with your broker on detention/refusal options.
Decide disposition: re-export or destroy. Don’t relabel.
Supplier corrective action: root cause, preventive action plan, and step-up verification (100% lot testing for at least 5 consecutive clean shipments). Consider an on-site audit.
Update your FSVP records and risk rating. One positive resets your frequency to high risk.

Recordkeeping that actually withstands an FDA FSVP inspection

We maintain a single file per lot that includes:

Hazard analysis identifying aquaculture drugs as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard.
Supplier approval and performance review.
Sampling plan used and who sampled.
Chain-of-custody and photos of sampling.
Temperature logs from sampling through lab receipt.
Lab COA with LOQs and methods.
Release authorization showing date/time and who approved.
Any corrective actions and communications.

If you keep that tight bundle, FSVP inspections tend to be straightforward.

Resources and next steps

We’ve packaged this approach for buyers moving Indonesian farmed shrimp, and the same verification discipline works across our wild-caught portfolio too. If you’re scoping a new lane or want us to mirror this program on your specs, Contact us on email and we’ll share a draft SOP you can run with. Want to see what we’re exporting today? View our products.

Final thought. FSVP isn’t about paperwork volume. It’s about clarity. Clear analytes, clear LOQs, clear sampling, and clear release rules. Do that, and containers stop being a gamble and start being routine.