For those who import food products, it is time to re-register your food facilities with FDA. Starting in 2012, companies were required to re-register their food facilities with FDA on a biennial basis. The re-registration period is from October 1 through December 31 of each even-numbered year.

Re-registration can be down via the FDA Food Facility Registration website. Please note that “renewing” your registration is different from “updating” your registration. If you recently “updated” your registration, you still need to go into the FDA Food Facility Registration website to “renew” your registration.

Remember that the FDA Food Facility re-registration requirement applies to both food importers as well as their overseas manufacturers. Please remind your food manufacturers to renew their FDA Food Facility registration before the end of the year. As your food manufacturers go through the renewal process, please also be aware of the U.S. Agent appointment process. Domestic food facilities are not required to appoint a U.S. Agent. However foreign food facilities are required to appoint a U.S. agent. It is extremely important for U.S. Agents to remember that under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the U.S. agent is responsible for paying for any FDA re-inspections of foreign food facilities. FDA’s fees are not cheap. FDA will be billing for foreign travel at a rate of $305 per hour. Therefore I would HIGHLY recommend that U.S. food facilities think twice before accepting responsibility to be the U.S. Agent for foreign food manufacturers.

Food facilities have until the end of this year to get re-registered. Please do not waste time and get your re-registration completed early to avoid being denied import privileges by FDA.

Let me know if you have any questions.

-Jimmy Ting

GWL Corp

Great World Customs Service

jimmyting@gwlcorp.com
tel# 650-873-9050 x1019