Shelled Hazelnuts (Filberts), Fresh or Dried

Yes. FDA has authority to detain imported tree nuts, including shelled hazelnuts, if they appear to violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act — most commonly for aflatoxin or other mycotoxin levels exceeding action levels. Importers should ensure suppliers provide current mycotoxin test certificates and that establishments are registered with FDA under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Germany is a major processing and re-export hub for Turkish hazelnuts. Raw or semi-processed nuts are imported into Germany, further processed (blanched, roasted, or ground), and then re-exported globally, including to the US. Importers should verify the country of origin carefully, as the origin for duty purposes is the country where the nuts were grown, not the country of last shipment.