Import Detention Testing & Sampling Most imported foods fall under the regulatory purview of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Established in 1974, the FDA’s Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE) program automatically detains and prevents the sale of items it deems high-risk – due to a history of violations from a manufacturer, the appearance that a product is violative, or when information indicates future entries may be violative. In order to sell a product detained under DWPE and remove a manufacturer from automatic detention, the importer must have a third-party laboratory, like Anresco, sample and analyze the product for the presumed violation. If the product is deemed to be “clean”, then an analytical packet is sent to the FDA recommending the product be released.