Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
Foreign Supplier Verification Programs 
for Importers of Food for Humans and 
Animals: What You Need to Know About 
the FDA Regulation: Guidance for 
Industry  
Small Entity Compliance Guide  
 
Additional copies are available from: 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
Food and Drug Administration 
5001 Campus Drive 
College Park, MD  20740 
(Tel) 240-402-1700 
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm253380.htm or 
https://www.regulations.gov 
 
You may submit either electronic or written comments regarding this guidance at any time.  
Submit electronic comments to https://www.regulations.gov.  Submit written comments on the 
guidance to the Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.  All comments should be identified with the 
docket number FDA-2011-N-0143 listed in the notice of availability that publishes in the 
Federal Register.   
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition  
 
 
January 2018 
 
 
 
    Table of Contents 
I.  INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................4   
II. OVERVIEW OF THE REGULATION ................................................................6   
A. Who Is Covered by This Regulation? .................................................................................... 6 
B. What Foods Are Covered by This Regulation? ..................................................................... 6 
C. What Is Required of Importers Under the FSVP Regulation? ............................................... 6 
D. Who Is Subject to Modified Requirements Under the FSVP Regulation? ............................ 6 
E. How =Do the Requirements Under the FSVP Regulation Align with Other Supply Chain 
Program Requirements Under FSMA? ....................................................................................... 7 
F. Key Terms Used in Part 1, Subpart L ..................................................................................... 7 
III. WHAT FOODS ARE COVERED BY THIS REGULATION? ......................... 8 
A. What Foods Are Subject to the FSVP Requirements? ........................................................... 8 
B. What Foods Are Exempt from the Requirement to Have an FSVP? ..................................... 8 
IV. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO USE MODIFIED FSVP REQUIREMENTS? ..........10 
A. Who Is a Very Small Importer? ........................................................................................... 11 
B. Who Is a Small Foreign Supplier? ....................................................................................... 11 
C. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Importers Subject to Modified 
Requirements?........................................................................................................................... 13 
1. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Very Small Importers? .................... 13 
2. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Importers of Certain Food From 
Certain Small Foreign Suppliers? ......................................................................................... 13 
V. WHAT FSVP REQUIREMENTS APPLY FOR VERY SMALL IMPORTERS 
AND IMPORTERS OF FOOD FROM CERTAIN SMALL FOREIGN 
SUPPLIERS? ...........................................................................................................13 
A. What FSVP Activities Must I Conduct? .............................................................................. 14 
1. What Are the Written Assurance Requirements for Very Small Importers? .................... 14 
2. What Written Assurances Are Required From Qualified Facilities?................................ 14 
3. What Written Assurances Are Required from Certain Small Produce Farms? ................ 14 
2 
  4. What Written Assurances Are Required from Certain Shell Egg Producers? .................. 15 
B. What Corrective Actions Must I Take?................................................................................ 15 
C. What Are the Recordkeeping Requirements for FSVP Activities? ..................................... 15 
D. What Are the Additional Requirements When Importing from Certain Small Foreign 
Suppliers When You Are Not a Very Small Importer? ............................................................ 16 
1. What Are the Requirements for Evaluation and Reevaluation of Foreign Supplier 
Compliance History? ............................................................................................................ 16 
2. What Are the Requirements for Approval of Foreign Suppliers? .................................... 16 
3. What Are the Requirements for Use of Approved Foreign Suppliers? ............................ 16 
E. Who Must Develop My FSVP and Perform FSVP Activities?  ........................................... 17 
F. How Must I Identify the FSVP Importer at Entry? .............................................................. 17 
VI. WHAT OTHER MODIFIED FSVP REQUIREMENTS MIGHT APPLY TO 
FOOD I IMPORT? ...................................................................................................17 
A. Dietary Supplements and Dietary Supplement Components ............................................... 17 
B. Certain Food from Foreign Suppliers in Countries with Comparable or Equivalent Food 
Safety Systems .......................................................................................................................... 19 
VII. WHEN DO I HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE FSVP REGULATION? .....19 
VIII. DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................20 
 
 
3 
  Foreign Supplier Verification Programs 
for Importers of Food for Humans and 
Animals: What You Need to Know About 
the FDA Regulation: Guidance for 
1
Industry   
 
Small Entity Compliance Guide  
 
 
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) 
on this topic.  It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the 
public.  You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable 
statutes and regulations.  To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff responsible 
for this guidance as listed on the title page.  
 
 
I.  Introduction  
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA) directs the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) as the food regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services to better protect public health by, among other things, adopting a modern, 
preventive, and risk-based approach to food safety regulation.  On November 27, 2015, FDA 
published the final rule Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for 
Humans and Animals (FSVP regulation) (80 FR 74225). 
 
This regulation became effective on January 26, 2016.  It creates new requirements for importers 
of food for humans and animals. 
 
                                                 
1 This guidance has been prepared by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration.   
 
4 
  This regulation requires importers to perform certain risk-based activities to verify that food 
imported into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety 
standards.  The regulation has a set of standard requirements for larger importers, and a modified 
set of procedures for importers that meet the definition of very small importer.  There are also 
modified procedures that can be used when importing from certain small foreign suppliers.   
 
We have prepared this Small Entity Compliance Guide in accordance with section 212 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Public Law 104-121, as amended by 
Public Law 110-28).  This guide will focus on the modified procedures for very small importers 
or importers of food from certain small foreign suppliers.  The FSVP regulation is binding and 
has the full force and effect of law. 
 
FDAs guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable 
responsibilities.  Instead, guidances describe our current thinking on a topic and should be 
viewed only as recommendation, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.  
The use of the word should in FDA guidances means that something is suggested or 
recommended, but not required. 
 
Purpose of This Compliance Guide  
 
This guide was developed to inform U.S. importers about the FSVP regulation and how to 
comply with it.  It contains important information that may affect your firm. 
 
Key Requirements  
 
The FSVP regulation applies to importers of food into the United States and contains binding 
requirements for those subject to the rule.  For purposes of this rule, an importer is the U.S. 
owner or consignee of a food offered for import into the United States.  (A U.S. owner or 
consignee of an imported food is defined as a person who, at the time of entry, owns the food, 
has purchased it, or has agreed in writing to purchase it.)  If theres no U.S. owner or consignee 
at the time of entry, the FSVP importer is the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or 
consignee.   
 
In general, the requirements of the FSVP regulation apply to all food imported or offered for 
import into the United States, unless an exemption applies under 21 CFR 1.501. 
 
The FSVP regulation establishes requirements relating to: 
  Use of qualified individuals to conduct FSVP activities, 
  Hazard analysis, 
  Food and supplier evaluation, 
  Foreign supplier verification, 
  Corrective actions, 
  Recordkeeping, and  
  Importer identification for a food offered for entry into the United States. 
5 
  II. Overview of the Rule  
A. Who Is Covered by This Regulation?  
The FSVP regulation applies to importers of food into the United States as the term importer is 
defined in 21 CFR 1.500.  For the purposes of the FSVP regulation, an importer is the U.S. 
owner or consignee of a food offered for import into the United States.  If there is no U.S. owner 
or consignee at the time of U.S. entry, the importer is the U.S. agent or representative of the 
foreign owner of consignee at the time of entry, as confirmed in a signed statement of consent.  
See Am I Subject to FSVP? available at: 
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/UCM480038.pdf. 
B. What Foods Are Covered by This Regulation?   
In general, the FSVP regulation applies to all imported foods regulated by FDA (21 CFR 
1.501(a)).  Certain categories of imported food are not covered by the FSVP regulation and these 
are discussed further in Section III.B.   
C. What Is Required of Importers Under the FSVP Regulation? 
Importers covered by the FSVP regulation must put in place foreign supplier verification 
programs (FSVPs) to verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food using processes and 
procedures that provide the same level of public health protection as those required under the 
preventive controls (for human or animal food) or produce safety regulations, as appropriate, and 
to ensure that the suppliers food is not adulterated and is not misbranded with respect to allergen 
labeling (21 CFR 1.502(a)). 
Generally, the FSVP rule requires: 
 Conducting a hazard analysis to determine known or reasonably foreseeable hazards with 
each food that require a control (21 CFR 1.504) 
 Evaluating the foreign suppliers performance and the risk posed by a food (based on the 
hazard analysis) (21 CFR 1.505(a)) 
 Using that evaluation to approve suppliers and determine appropriate supplier verification 
activities (21 CFR 1.505(b)) 
 Conducting foreign supplier verification and related activities (21 CFR 1.506) 
 Taking corrective actions (if necessary) (21 CFR 1.508) 
 Maintaining records of these FSVP activities (21 CFR 1.510) 
D. Who Is Subject to Modified Requirements Under the FSVP Regulation?  
There are several types of importers that are subject to modified requirements.  For example, 
very small importers and importers of food from certain small foreign suppliers are subject to 
modified requirements under the FSVP regulation.  Under these modified requirements, 
6 
  importers do not have to conduct hazard analyses or evaluate the food and foreign supplier (21 
CFR 1.512).  The full list of modified requirements is discussed further in Sections IV and VI. 
E. How Do the Requirements Under the FSVP Regulation Align with Other Supply-Chain 
Program Requirements Under FSMA?  
The FSVP regulation is closely aligned with the supply-chain program requirements established 
in the regulations on preventive controls for animal and human food (PC regulations).  Under the 
supply-chain program provisions in the PC regulations, facilities that produce food using 
purchased raw materials or other ingredients must establish supply-chain verification procedures 
to ensure their suppliers are effectively controlling food safety hazards that the PC regulations 
define as needing to be controlled by the producer of the ingredient.  These receiving facilities 
that are also importers can decide whether they will comply with the relevant PC supply-chain 
program or FSVP provisions, and they will not have to duplicate their supplier verification 
activities. 
F. Key Terms Used in Part 1, Subpart L 
The FSVP regulation uses a number of terms in very specific ways.  A full list of these terms 
appears in this Guidance in Section VII Definitions.  Table 1 lists some of the key terms. 
Table 1--Key Terms Used in Part 1, Subpart L 
Term  Definition 
Facility  A domestic or foreign facility that is required to register under 
section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 
Foreign supplier  For an article of food, the establishment that 
manufactures/processes the food, raises the animal, or grows the 
food that is exported to the United States without further 
manufacturing/processing by another establishment, except for 
further manufacturing/processing that consists solely of the 
addition of labeling or any similar activity of a de minimis nature. 
Importer  The U.S. owner or consignee of an article of food that is being 
offered for import into the United States.  If there is no U.S. 
owner or consignee of an article of food at the time of U.S. entry, 
the importer is the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign 
owner or consignee at the time of entry, as confirmed in a signed 
statement of consent to serve as the importer under part 1, subpart 
L.  
Receiving facility  A facility that is subject to subparts C and G of part 117 of this 
chapter, or subparts C and E of this chapter, and that 
manufactures/processes a raw material or other ingredient that it 
receives from a supplier. 
7 
  U.S. owner or consignee  The person in the United States who, at the time of U.S. entry, 
either owns the food, has purchased the food, or has agreed in 
writing to purchase the food.  
 
III. What Foods Are Covered By This Regulation? 
A. What Foods Are Subject to the FSVP Requirements? 
The requirements of this regulation apply to all food imported or offered for import into the 
United States and to the importers of such food, unless there is an exemption (21 CFR 1.501(a)). 
 
The term food includes (21 CFR 1.500): 
  Articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, 
  Chewing gum, 
  And articles used for components of any such article. 
B. What Foods Are Exempt from the Requirement to Have an FSVP? 
Table 2--Exemptions for part 1, subpart L 
Exemption  Conditions 
Imports of certain seafood products  Imports of seafood products produced in 
foreign facilities in compliance with FDAs 
(21 CFR 1.501(b)) 
seafood HACCP requirements of 21 CFR part 
123 are exempt from the FSVP regulation.  
This exemption also covers imports of 
seafood raw materials or other ingredients for 
use by the importer in making seafood 
products under the seafood HACCP 
regulation. 
Imports of certain juice products  Imports of juice products produced in foreign 
facilities in compliance with FDAs juice 
 
HACCP requirements of 21 CFR part 120 are 
exempt from the FSVP regulation.  
(21 CFR 1.501(b)) 
This exemption also covers imports of juice 
raw materials or other ingredients for use by 
the importer in making juice products under 
the juice HACCP regulation. 
Food imported for research or evaluation  Food imported for research or evaluation use 
is exempt from the FSVP regulation provided 
8 
  Exemption  Conditions 
  it: (1) is not intended for retail sale and is not 
sold or distributed to the public; (2) is labeled 
(21 CFR 1.501(c)) 
with the statement Food for research or 
evaluation use; (3) is imported in a small 
quantity consistent with a research, analysis, 
or quality assurance purpose, is used only for 
this purpose, and any unused quantity is 
properly disposed of; and (4) is accompanied, 
when filing entry with U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP), by an electronic 
declaration that the food will be used for 
research or evaluation purposes and will not 
be sold or distributed to the public. 
Food imported for personal consumption  Food imported for personal consumption is 
exempt from the FSVP regulation provided it: 
(21 CFR 1.501(d)) 
(1) is not intended for retail sale and is not 
sold or distributed to the public; and (2) is 
purchased or otherwise acquired by a person 
in a small quantity that is consistent with a 
non-commercial purpose. 
Alcoholic beverages regulated by the Alcohol  This exemption applies if the manufacturing 
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of  facility is of a type that if it were a domestic 
the U.S. Treasury Department.  facility it would be required to register with 
the TTB, and the facility is also a facility that 
 
must register with FDA under the 
Bioterrorism Act. 
(21 CFR 1.501(e)) 
Raw materials and other ingredients that are 
imported for use in the production or packing 
of alcoholic beverages are also exempt from 
FSVP requirements, provided that the relevant 
manufacturing/processing, packing, or holding 
of alcoholic beverages is performed by the 
importer. 
Non-alcoholic beverage foods in prepackaged 
form that constitute not more than 5 percent of 
the overall sales of the facility are also 
exempt. 
Food transshipped through the United States  Food that is transshipped through the United 
States to another country and is not sold or 
 
9 
  Exemption  Conditions 
(21 CFR 1.501(f)(1))  distributed to the public in the United States is 
exempt from the FSVP regulation. 
Food imported for processing and export  Food that is imported for processing and 
future export and that is not sold or distributed 
 
to the public in the United States is exempt 
from the FSVP regulation. 
(21 CFR 1.501(f)(2)) 
U.S. food returned  The FSVP regulation does not apply to food 
that is manufactured/processed, raised, or 
 
grown in the United States, exported, and 
returned to the United States without further 
(21 CFR 1.501(g)) 
manufacturing/processing in a foreign 
country. 
Meat, poultry, and egg products subject to  The FSVP regulation does not apply to meat, 
USDA regulation at time of importation   poultry, or egg products that at the time of 
importation are subject to USDA regulation. 
 
(21 CFR 1.501(h)) 
Low-acid canned foods, including raw  This exemption only applies with respect to 
materials and other ingredients in such foods  microbiological hazards that are controlled by 
part 21 CFR part 113.  For all hazards other 
 
than microbiological hazards that are 
controlled by part 113, you must have an 
(21 CFR 1.502(b)) 
FSVP.  
This exemption also covers imports of raw 
materials or other ingredients for use by the 
importer in making low-acid canned food 
products under part 113. 
IV. Who Is Eligible to Use Modified FSVP Requirements? 
The FSVP regulation includes modified requirements for very small importers (VSIs) and 
importers of food from certain small foreign suppliers (21 CFR 1.512).   
The FSVP regulation also includes modified requirements for importers of dietary supplements 
and dietary supplement components and importers of certain food from foreign suppliers in 
countries whose food safety systems FDA has officially recognized as comparable or determined 
to be equivalent to the United States.  These are discussed separately in Section VI What Other 
Modified FSVP Requirements Might Apply to Food I Import? 
10 
  A. Who Is a Very Small Importer? 
Table 3--Very Small Importers  
Entity  Definition/Condition 
 Very Small Importer of human  With respect to the importation of human food, an 
food  importer (including any subsidiaries and affiliates) 
averaging less than $1,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) -- 
(21 CFR 1.500) 
in both sales of human food plus the market value of 
human food that is imported, manufactured, processed, 
 
packed, or held without sale (e.g., imported for a fee), per 
year during the 3-year period preceding the current 
calendar year. 
 Very Small Importer of animal  With respect to the importation of animal food, an 
food  importer (including any subsidiaries and affiliates) 
averaging less than $2,500,000 (adjusted for inflation) -- 
 
in both sales of animal food plus the market value of 
animal food that is imported, manufactured, processed, 
(21 CFR 1.500) 
packed, or held without sale (e.g., imported for a fee), per 
year during the 3-year period preceding the current 
calendar year. 
 
B. Who Is a Small Foreign Supplier? 
Table 4--Small Foreign Suppliers 
Type of Foreign Supplier  Condition 
Qualified Facilities as defined in  A qualified facility under the PC for human food 
the preventive controls regulations   regulation includes: 
(21 CFR 1.512(a)(2)(i))   
  Businesses (when including the sales by any 
subsidiaries, affiliates, and any entity of which the 
facility is a subsidiary or affiliate) with average 
annual sales of less than $500,000 with at least 
half the sales to consumers or to local retailers or 
restaurants or Indian reservations (within the same 
state or within 275 miles) or very small businesses 
as defined in 21 CFR 117.3. 
  A very small business (including any subsidiaries 
and affiliates), averaging less than $1,000,000 
(adjusted for inflation) -- in both sales of human 
food plus the market value of human food that is 
manufactured, processed, packed, or held without 
sale (e.g., held for a fee), per year during the 3-
year period preceding the current calendar year. 
11 
   
A qualified facility under the PC for animal food 
regulation includes: 
 
  Businesses (when including the sales by any 
subsidiaries, affiliates, and any entity of which the 
facility is a subsidiary or affiliate) with average 
annual sales of less than $500,000 with at least 
half the sales to consumers or to local retailers or 
restaurants or Indian reservations (within the same 
state or within 275 miles) or very small businesses 
as defined in 21 CFR 507.3. 
  A very small business (including any subsidiaries 
and affiliates), averaging less than $2,500,000 
(adjusted for inflation) -- in both sales of human 
food plus the market value of human food that is 
manufactured, processed, packed, or held without 
sale (e.g., held for a fee), per year during the 3-
year period preceding the current calendar year. 
 
Certain Farms  Farms that grow produce and are not covered farms 
  under the produce safety regulation. 
(21 CFR 1.512(a)(2)(ii))   
  Under the produce safety regulation, a farm is not a 
covered farm if either: 
(1) The farm has sold less than $25,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) in average annual monetary value of covered 
produce during the previous 3-year period; OR  
(2) The farm is eligible for a qualified exemption under 
the produce safety regulation because:  
  During the 3-year period preceding the applicable 
calendar year, the average annual monetary value 
of the food the farm sold directly to qualified end-
users (consumers or local restaurants and retail 
food establishments) during such period exceeded 
the average annual monetary value of the food 
sold by the farm to all other purchasers; and  
  The average annual monetary value of all food 
sold during the 3-year period preceding the 
applicable calendar year was less than $500,000, 
adjusted for inflation. 
12 
  If FDA has revoked the farms qualified exemption 
status, the farm may not be a small foreign supplier for 
purposes of the FSVP regulation. 
 
Certain Shell Egg Producers  Shell egg producers that are not subject to the FDA 
  regulations in 21 CFR part 118 because they have fewer 
than 3,000 laying hens. 
(21 CFR 1.512(a)(2)(iii)) 
C. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Importers Subject to Modified 
Requirements? 
For the modified requirements to apply, the importer will need to annually document its very 
small importer status or obtain assurance that its foreign supplier meets the criteria as one of the 
small types of foreign suppliers (21 CFR 1.512(b)(1)). 
1. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Very Small Importers? 
If you are a very small importer and you choose to comply with the modified FSVP 
requirements, you must document that you meet the definition of very small importer (the 
definition is based on your sales volume of human food and/or animal food as summarized in 
Table 3) (21 CFR 1.512(b)(1)(i)(A)). 
You must document your eligibility for VSI status before initially importing food and thereafter 
on an annual basis by December 31 of each calendar year (21 CFR 1.512(b)(1)(i)(A)). 
2. What Documentation of Eligibility Is Required for Importers of Certain Food From Certain 
Small Foreign Suppliers? 
If you are importing food from a small foreign supplier and you choose to comply with the 
modified FSVP requirements, you must obtain written assurance that your foreign supplier meets 
the criteria for a type of small foreign supplier as summarized in Table 4 (21 CFR 
1.512(b)(1)(ii)). 
You must document the suppliers eligibility for small foreign supplier status before initially 
importing food and thereafter on an annual basis by December 31 of each calendar year (21 CFR 
1.512(b)(1)(ii)). 
V. What FSVP Requirements Apply for Very Small Importers and 
Importers of Food From Certain Small Foreign Suppliers? 
If you meet the eligibility requirements for a very small importer or an importer who is importing 
food from a certain small foreign supplier, in addition to the requirements in 21 CFR 1.512(b):  
  You must have a foreign supplier verification program as required in 21 CFR 1.502 and 
as discussed further below,  
13 
    A qualified individual must develop your FSVP and perform FSVP activities as required 
in 21 CFR 1.503, and 
  You must ensure that you are identified as the importer of the food when filing entry with 
CBP as required in 21 CFR 1.509. 
However, you are not required to comply with the requirements in 21 CFR 1.504 through 1.508 
or 1.510 (21 CFR 1.512(b)(2)). 
A. What FSVP Activities Must I Conduct?  
You must establish a foreign supplier verification program for each food that you import from 
each of your foreign suppliers (21 CFR 1.502(a)).  For very small importers and importers of 
food from small foreign suppliers, FSVP activities consist of obtaining written assurances from 
the suppliers. 
1. What Are the Written Assurance Requirements for Very Small Importers? 
If you are a very small importer, you must obtain assurance at least every 2 years that your 
foreign supplier is producing food consistent with U.S. safety standards (i.e., that the supplier 
uses processes and procedures that provide at least the same level of public health protection as 
those required under the PC for human or animal food or produce safety regulations, if 
applicable, and in compliance with section 402 (adulteration) and 403(w) (misbranding with 
respect to allergen labeling) of the FD&C Act) (21 CFR 1.512(b)(3)(i)). 
2. What Written Assurances Are Required from Qualified Facilities? 
If your foreign supplier is a qualified facility under the PC regulations, you must obtain 
assurance at least every 2 years that the foreign supplier produces food in accordance with 
applicable FDA food safety regulations (or, when applicable, the relevant laws and regulations of 
a country whose food safety system FDA has officially recognized as comparable or determined 
to be equivalent to that of the United States).  The written assurance must include either: 
  A brief description of the preventive controls that the supplier is implementing to control 
the applicable hazard in the food; or  
  A statement that the supplier is in compliance with State, local, county, tribal, or other 
applicable non-Federal food safety law, including relevant laws and regulations of 
foreign countries. 
(21 CFR 1.512(b)(3)(ii)) 
3. What Written Assurances Are Required from Certain Small Produce Farms? 
If your foreign supplier grows produce and is not a covered farm under the specified provisions 
of the produce safety regulation, you must obtain written assurance at least every 2 years that the 
farm acknowledges that its food is subject to section 402 of the FD&C Act (or, when applicable, 
the relevant laws and regulations of a country whose food safety system FDA has officially 
recognized as comparable or determined to be equivalent to that of the United States) (21 CFR 
1.512(b)(3)(iii)). 
14 
  4. What Written Assurances Are Required from Certain Shell Egg Producers? 
If your foreign supplier is a shell egg producer that is not subject to the requirements of 21 CFR 
part 118 because it has fewer than 3,000 laying hens, you must obtain written assurance before 
importing the shell eggs and at least every 2 years that the shell egg producer acknowledges that 
its food is subject to section 402 of the FD&C Act (or, when applicable, the relevant laws and 
regulations of a country whose food safety system FDA has officially recognized as comparable 
or determined to be equivalent to that of the United States) (21 CFR 1.512(b)(3)(iv)). 
5. What Hazard Analysis Must I Conduct?  
If you meet the eligibility requirements for a very small importer or an importer who is importing 
food from a certain small foreign supplier, you are not required to conduct a written hazard 
analysis, as required by 21 CFR 1.504, to determine known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for 
each type of food that you import, or to determine whether there are any hazards requiring a 
control.  
6. What Evaluation for Foreign Supplier Approval and Verification Must I Conduct?   
If you meet the eligibility requirements for a very small importer or an importer who is importing 
food from certain small foreign suppliers, you are not required to conduct an evaluation of a 
foreign suppliers performance and the risk posed by a food or to approve your foreign suppliers 
(21 CFR 1.505).  
B. What Corrective Actions Must I Take?  
If you learn that your foreign supplier is not producing food consistent with U.S. safety 
standards, you must take appropriate corrective action.  This might mean working with the 
supplier to address the problem and, in some cases, temporarily discontinuing use of the supplier 
until the problem is resolved (21 CFR 1.512(b)(4)). 
You must document any corrective actions you take.  The corrective action requirements under 
the FSVP regulation do not affect other obligations that you may have with respect to other laws 
enforced by FDA, such as those relating to product recalls (21 CFR 1.512(b)(4)). 
C. What Are the Recordkeeping Requirements for FSVP Activities?  
You must keep records of your FSVP activities.  The records may be kept as original records, 
photocopies, scanned copies, or electronic records.  You must sign and date records concerning 
your FSVP upon initial completion and upon any modification of the FSVP (21 CFR 
1.512(b)(5)(i)).  You can rely on records created for other purposes (e.g., to comply with other 
regulations) if the records contain the information required under FSVP, and you can supplement 
existing records with other information to meet FSVP requirements (21 CFR 1.512(b)(5)(v)). 
You must make all your FSVP records available promptly to an authorized FDA representative 
for inspection and copying.  Offsite storage is permitted if the records can be provided onsite 
within 24 hours.  In addition, FDA may request that importers send records to FDA 
electronically or through some other prompt means (21 CFR 1.512(b)(5)(ii)). 
15 
  Generally, you must retain FSVP records for at least 2 years after you create or obtain the 
records (21 CFR 1.512(b)(5)(iii)(A)).  If you are importing foods from certain small foreign 
suppliers, you must retain records that relate to your processes and procedures for at least 2 years 
after their use is discontinued (21 CFR 1.512(b)(5)(ii)).  If you are a very small importer, you 
must retain for at least 3 years the records that you rely on during the 3-year period preceding the 
applicable calendar year to support your status as a very small importer (21 CFR 
1.512(b)(5)(iii)(C)). 
D. What Are the Additional Requirements When Importing from Certain Small Foreign 
Suppliers When You Are Not a Very Small Importer? 
If you are not a very small importer and you are importing food from certain small foreign 
suppliers, you must comply with the following additional requirements (21 CFR 1.512(c)): 
  Evaluate and reevaluate foreign supplier compliance history (21 CFR 1.512(c)(1)) 
  Approve foreign suppliers (21 CFR 1.512(c)(2)) 
  Use only approved foreign suppliers (21 CFR 1.512(c)(3)) 
1. What Are the Requirements for Evaluation and Reevaluation of Foreign Supplier 
Compliance History? 
You must evaluate your foreign suppliers history of compliance with FDA food safety 
regulations (or review and assess anothers evaluation) and document the evaluation (21 CFR 
1.512(c)(1)).  For example, you should monitor whether your foreign supplier has been subject to 
an import alert or warning letter issued by FDA.  Import alerts can be found at 
http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ImportProgram/ImportAlerts/.  You may also consider other 
factors relevant to a foreign suppliers performance, including those specified in  
1.505(a)(1)(iii)(A) and (C).  
You must reevaluate the small foreign suppliers compliance history when you become aware of 
new information that could affect your initial evaluation.  If at the end of any 3-year period you 
have not reevaluated the small foreign suppliers compliance history, you must conduct a 
reevaluation and take other appropriate actions as necessary.  Any reevaluation must be 
documented (21 CFR 1.512(c)(1)(ii)). 
2. What Are the Requirements for Approval of Foreign Suppliers? 
You must approve your foreign suppliers based on your evaluation of their compliance history or 
based on your review and assessment of another entitys evaluation of the small foreign 
suppliers compliance history.  You must document your approval (21 CFR 1.512(c)(2)). 
3. What Are the Requirements for Use of Approved Foreign Suppliers? 
You must establish and follow written procedures to ensure you import food only from approved 
suppliers (or, when necessary and appropriate, from unapproved suppliers on a temporary basis).  
You must document your use of these procedures (21 CFR 1.512(c)(3)(i)). 
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  You may rely on an entity other than the foreign supplier to establish and perform procedures for 
use of approved and unapproved suppliers and to document use of these procedures, provided 
that you review and assess that entitys documentation of the procedures and their use, and you 
document your review and assessment (21 CFR 1.512(c)(3)(ii)).    
E. Who Must Develop My FSVP and Perform FSVP Activities?  
Importers subject to the FSVP regulation must ensure that their FSVP is developed and applied 
by a qualified individual as defined in 21 CFR 1.500 (21 CFR 1.503(a)). 
The qualified individual performing FSVP activities for you:    
  Must have the education, training, or experience (or combination thereof) necessary to 
perform the activity; and 
  Must be able to read and understand the language of any records reviewed in performing 
an activity. 
 (21 CFR 1.503(a)) 
F. How Must I Identify the FSVP Importer at Entry? 
For each line entry of food, you must ensure that your name, email address, and unique facility 
identifier recognized as acceptable by FDA are provided electronically to CBP at entry (21 CFR 
1.509(a)). 
The Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is an acceptable 
number to use as a unique facility identifier.  You can obtain a DUNS number at 
https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
VI. What Other Modified FSVP Requirements Might Apply to Food 
I Import? 
The FSVP regulation also includes modified requirements for: 
  Importers of dietary supplements and dietary supplement components (21 CFR 1.511); 
and  
  Importers of certain food from foreign suppliers in countries whose food safety systems 
FDA has officially recognized as comparable or determined to be equivalent to that of the 
United States (21 CFR 1.513).   
A. Dietary Supplements and Dietary Supplement Components 
If you import dietary supplements or dietary supplement components and you (or your customer) 
are required to establish specifications under certain provisions of the dietary supplement current 
good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulation (21 CFR 111.70(b) or (d)), and you (or your 
customer) ensure that the specifications are met (in compliance with 21 CFR 111.73 and 111.75), 
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  then for that food you would not have to meet the standard FSVP requirements, except the 
requirements to use a qualified individual and to ensure that you are identified as the importer at 
entry.  If your customer establishes the specifications and ensures that they are met, you will 
need to annually obtain written assurance of your customers compliance and follow the standard 
recordkeeping requirements (21 CFR 1.511(a) and (b)). 
If you import a dietary supplement except as specified above, you are subject to FSVP 
requirements similar to the standard requirements except that, among other differences, you 
would not be required to conduct a hazard analysis and your supplier verification activities must 
be designed to provide adequate assurances that your supplier uses processes and procedures that 
provide the same level of public health protection as those required under the dietary supplement 
CGMP regulation (21 CFR 1.511(c)). 
Table 5 -- Modified Requirements for Importers of Dietary Supplements or Dietary Supplement 
Components 
Conditions  Modified Requirement 
Importers subject to certain dietary  Then, for that food you must comply with the 
supplement CGMP requirements:  following requirements: 
If you are required to establish specifications    Use a qualified individual (21 CFR 
under 21 CFR 111.70(b) or (d); and  1.503); and 
You are in compliance with the requirements    Identify the importer at entry (21 CFR 
in 21 CFR 111.73 and 111.75  1.509) 
(21 CFR 1.511(a))  You are not required to comply with the other 
FSVP requirements.   
Importers whose customer is subject to  Then, for that food you must comply with the 
certain dietary supplement CGMP  following requirements: 
requirements: 
  Use a qualified individual (21 CFR 
If your customer is required to establish  1.503);  
specifications under 21 CFR 111.70(b) or (d); 
and    Identify the importer at entry (21 CFR 
1.509); and 
Your customer is in compliance with the 
requirements in 21 CFR 111.73 and 111.75;    Follow the standard recordkeeping 
and  requirements (21 CFR 1.510). 
You annually obtain written assurance from  You are not required to comply with the other 
your customer that they are in compliance  FSVP requirements.   
with those requirements. 
(21 CFR 1.511(b)) 
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  Other importers of dietary supplements:  Then, you must comply with the following 
requirements: 
If the food you import is a dietary 
supplement; and     CFR 1.511(c)  modified FSVP 
requirements for importers of dietary 
You or your customer are not required to 
supplements 
follow certain dietary supplement CGMP 
regulations as described in 21 CFR 1.511(a)    21 CFR 1.503  use of a qualified 
and (b)  individual 
(21 CFR 1.511(c))    21 CFR 1.505(a)(1)(ii) through (iv), 
(a)(2), and (b) through (d)  foreign 
supplier evaluation  
  21 CFR 1.508  corrective actions 
  21 CFR 1.509  identify importer at 
entry 
  21 CFR 1.510  FSVP records  
You are not required to comply with the other 
FSVP requirements.   
 
B. Certain Food from Foreign Suppliers in Countries with Comparable or Equivalent Food 
Safety Systems 
If you import certain food from a foreign supplier in a country whose food safety system FDA 
has officially recognized as comparable or determined to be equivalent to that of the United 
States, you would not need to comply with most of the FSVP requirements (except the 
requirements to use a qualified individual (21 CFR 1.503), ensure that you are identified as the 
importer at entry (21 CFR 1.509), and maintain records (21 CFR 1.510)), provided certain 
conditions are met.  The modified requirements are limited to food that is not intended for further 
manufacturing/processing, including packaged food products and raw agricultural commodities 
that will not be commercially processed further before consumption (21 CFR 1.513(a)). 
For the modified requirements to apply, you must document that the foreign supplier is in, and 
under the regulatory oversight of, a country with a comparable or equivalent food safety system, 
the food must be within the scope of the official recognition or equivalency determination, and 
the supplier must be in good compliance standing with the food safety authority of the 
comparable or equivalent country (21 CFR 1.513(b)).   
VII. When Do I Have to Comply With the FSVP Rule? 
The date importers must comply with the FSVP regulation is the latest of the following dates: 
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    18 months after publication of the final rule; 
  For the importation of food from a supplier that is subject to the preventive controls or 
produce safety rules, six months after the foreign supplier is required to meet the relevant 
regulations; or 
  For an importer that is also subject to the supply-chain program provisions in the 
preventive controls regulations for human food or animal food, the date the importer, as a 
receiving facility, is required to comply with the supply-chain program provisions of the 
relevant regulation.  
The compliance dates for importers subject to the FSVP regulation differ according to a number 
of considerations, including the size of the foreign supplier, the nature of the importer, and 
whether the foreign supplier must meet the requirements of the rules for preventive controls for 
human food, preventive controls for animal food, or produce safety. 
For a more detailed listing of compliance dates, please see 
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm503822.htm.  
VIII. Definitions (21 CFR 1.500) 
Adequate:  That which is needed to accomplish the intended purpose in keeping with good public 
health practice. 
Audit:  The systematic, independent, and documented examination (through observation, 
investigation, discussions with employees of the audited entity, records review, and, as 
appropriate, sampling and laboratory analysis) to assess an audited entitys food safety processes 
and procedures.   
Dietary supplement:  Has the meaning given in section 201(ff) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act. 
Dietary supplement component:  Any substance intended for use in the manufacture of a dietary 
supplement, including those that may not appear in the finished batch of the dietary supplement.  
Dietary supplement components include dietary ingredients (as described in section 201(ff) of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) and other ingredients. 
Environmental pathogen:  A pathogen that is capable of surviving and persisting within the 
manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding environment such that food may be contaminated 
and may result in foodborne illness if that food is consumed without treatment to significantly 
minimize or prevent the environmental pathogen.  Examples of environmental pathogens for the 
purposes of this subpart include Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. but do not include 
the spores of pathogenic sporeformers. 
Facility:  A domestic facility or a foreign facility that is required to register under section 415 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, in accordance with the requirements of subpart H of 
this part. 
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  Farm:  
(1) Primary production farm. A primary production farm is an operation under one 
management in one general (but not necessarily contiguous) physical location devoted to 
the growing of crops, the harvesting of crops, the raising of animals (including seafood), 
or any combination of these activities. The term farm includes operations that, in 
addition to these activities: 
(i) Pack or hold raw agricultural commodities; 
(ii) Pack or hold processed food, provided that all processed food used in such activities 
is either consumed on that farm or another farm under the same management, or is 
processed food identified in paragraph (1)(iii)(B)(1) of this definition; and 
(iii) Manufacture/process food, provided that: 
(A) All food used in such activities is consumed on that farm or another farm under the 
same management; or 
(B) Any manufacturing/processing of food that is not consumed on that farm or another 
farm under the same management consists only of: 
(1) Drying/dehydrating raw agricultural commodities to create a distinct commodity 
(such as drying/dehydrating grapes to produce raisins), and packaging and labeling such 
commodities, without additional manufacturing/processing (an example of additional 
manufacturing/processing is slicing); 
(2) Treatment to manipulate the ripening of raw agricultural commodities (such as by 
treating produce with ethylene gas), and packaging and labeling treated raw agricultural 
commodities, without additional manufacturing/processing; and 
(3) Packaging and labeling raw agricultural commodities, when these activities do not 
involve additional manufacturing/processing (an example of additional 
manufacturing/processing is irradiation); or 
(2) Secondary activities farm. A secondary activities farm is an operation, not located on 
a primary production farm, devoted to harvesting (such as hulling or shelling), packing, 
and/or holding of raw agricultural commodities, provided that the primary production 
farm(s) that grows, harvests, and/or raises the majority of the raw agricultural 
commodities harvested, packed, and/or held by the secondary activities farm owns, or 
jointly owns, a majority interest in the secondary activities farm. A secondary activities 
farm may also conduct those additional activities allowed on a primary production farm 
as described in paragraphs (1)(ii) and (iii) of this definition. 
Farm mixed-type facility:  An establishment that is a farm but that also conducts activities 
outside the farm definition that require the establishment to be registered under section 415 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 
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  Food:  Has the meaning given in section 201(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 
except that food does not include pesticides (as defined in 7 U.S.C. 136(u)). 
Food allergen:  A major food allergen as defined in section 201(qq) of the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act. 
Foreign supplier:  For an article of food, the establishment that manufactures/processes the food, 
raises the animal, or grows the food that is exported to the United States without further 
manufacturing/processing by another establishment, except for further manufacturing/processing 
that consists solely of the addition of labeling or any similar activity of a de minimis nature. 
Good compliance standing with a foreign food safety authority: the foreign supplier-- 
(1)  Appears on the current version of a list, issued by the food safety authority of the 
country in which the foreign supplier is located and which has regulatory oversight of the 
supplier, of food producers that are in good compliance standing with the food safety authority, 
or  
(2)  Has otherwise been designated by such food safety authority as being in good 
compliance standing. 
Harvesting:  Applies to farms and farm mixed-type facilities and means activities that are 
traditionally performed on farms for the purpose of removing raw agricultural commodities from 
the place they were grown or raised and preparing them for use as food.  Harvesting is limited to 
activities performed on raw agricultural commodities on a farm.  Harvesting does not include 
activities that transform a raw agricultural commodity into a processed food as defined in section 
201(gg) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  Examples of harvesting include cutting 
(or otherwise separating) the edible portion of the raw agricultural commodity from the crop 
plant and removing or trimming part of the raw agricultural commodity (e.g., foliage, husks, 
roots or stems).  Examples of harvesting also include cooling, field coring, filtering, gathering, 
hulling, removing stems and husks from, shelling, sifting, threshing, trimming of outer leaves of, 
and washing raw agricultural commodities grown on a farm. 
Hazard:  Any biological, chemical (including radiological), or physical agent that is reasonably 
likely to cause illness or injury.  
Hazard requiring a control:  A known or reasonably foreseeable hazard for which a person 
knowledgeable about the safe manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of food would, 
based on the outcome of a hazard analysis (which includes an assessment of the probability that 
the hazard will occur in the absence of controls or measures and the severity of the illness or 
injury if the hazard were to occur), establish one or more controls or measures to significantly 
minimize or prevent the hazard in a food and components to manage those controls or measures 
(such as monitoring, corrections or corrective actions, verification, and records) as appropriate to 
the food, the facility, and the nature of the control or measure and its role in the facilitys food 
safety system. 
Holding:  Storage of food and also includes activities performed incidental to storage of a food 
(e.g., activities performed for the safe or effective storage of that food, such as fumigating food 
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  during storage, and drying/dehydrating raw agricultural commodities when the 
drying/dehydrating does not create a distinct commodity (such as drying/dehydrating hay or 
alfalfa).  Holding also includes activities performed as a practical necessity for the distribution of 
that food (such as blending of the same raw agricultural commodity and breaking down pallets), 
but does not include activities that transform a raw agricultural commodity into a processed food 
as defined in section 201(gg) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  Holding facilities 
could include warehouses, cold storage facilities, storage silos, grain elevators, and liquid storage 
tanks. 
Importer:  The U.S. owner or consignee of an article of food that is being offered for import into 
the United States.  If there is no U.S. owner or consignee of an article of food at the time of U.S. 
entry, the importer is the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee at the 
time of entry, as confirmed in a signed statement of consent to serve as the importer under this 
subpart.   
Known or reasonably foreseeable hazard:  A biological, chemical (including radiological), or 
physical hazard that is known to be, or has the potential to be, associated with a food or the 
facility in which it is manufactured/processed. 
Lot:  The food produced during a period of time and identified by an establishments specific 
code. 
Manufacturing/processing:  Making food from one or more ingredients, or synthesizing, 
preparing, treating, modifying, or manipulating food, including food crops or ingredients.  
Examples of manufacturing/processing activities include:  Baking, boiling, bottling, canning, 
cooking, cooling, cutting, distilling, drying/dehydrating raw agricultural commodities to create a 
distinct commodity (such as drying/dehydrating grapes to produce raisins), evaporating, 
eviscerating, extracting juice, extruding (of animal food), formulating, freezing, grinding, 
homogenizing, labeling, milling, mixing, packaging, pasteurizing, peeling, pelleting (of animal 
food), rendering, treating to manipulate ripening, trimming, washing, or waxing.  For farms and 
farm mixed-type facilities, manufacturing/processing does not include activities that are part of 
harvesting, packing, or holding. 
Microorganisms:  Yeasts, molds, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and microscopic parasites and 
includes species that are pathogens.   
Packing:  Placing food into a container other than packaging the food and also includes activities 
performed incidental to packing a food (e.g., activities performed for the safe or effective 
packing of that food (such as sorting, culling, grading, and weighing or conveying incidental to 
packing or re-packing), but does not include activities that transform a raw agricultural 
commodity into a processed food as defined in section 201(gg) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act. 
Pathogen: A microorganism of public health significance. 
Qualified auditor:  A person who is a qualified individual as defined in this section and has 
technical expertise obtained through education, training, or experience (or a combination thereof) 
23 
  necessary to perform the auditing function as required by  1.506(e)(1)(i) or  1.511(c)(6)(i)(A).  
Examples of potential qualified auditors include: 
(1)  A government employee, including a foreign government employee; and   
(2)  An audit agent of a certification body that is accredited in accordance with subpart M 
of this part. 
Qualified individual:  A person who has the education, training, or experience (or a combination 
thereof) necessary to perform an activity required under this subpart, and can read and 
understand the language of any records that the person must review in performing this activity.  
A qualified individual may be, but is not required to be, an employee of the importer.  A 
government employee, including a foreign government employee, may be a qualified individual. 
Raw agricultural commodity:  Has the meaning given in section 201(r) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 
Ready-to-eat food (RTE food):  Any food that is normally eaten in its raw state or any food, 
including a processed food, for which it is reasonably foreseeable that the food will be eaten 
without further processing that would significantly minimize biological hazards. 
Receiving facility:  A facility that is subject to subparts C and G of part 117 of this chapter, or 
subparts C and E of part 507 of this chapter, and that manufactures/processes a raw material or 
other ingredient that it receives from a supplier. 
U.S. owner or consignee:  The person in the United States who, at the time of U.S. entry, either 
owns the food, has purchased the food, or has agreed in writing to purchase the food. 
Very small importer:  
(1)  With respect to the importation of human food, an importer (including any 
subsidiaries and affiliates) averaging less than $1 million per year, adjusted for inflation, during 
the 3-year period preceding the applicable calendar year, in sales of human food combined with 
the U.S. market value of human food imported, manufactured, processed, packed, or held 
without sale (e.g., imported for a fee); and 
(2)  With respect to the importation of animal food, an importer (including any 
subsidiaries and affiliates) averaging less than $2.5 million per year, adjusted for inflation, 
during the 3-year period preceding the applicable calendar year, in sales of animal food 
combined with the U.S. market value of animal food imported, manufactured, processed, packed, 
or held without sale (e.g., imported for a fee). 
You:  A person who is subject to some or all of the requirements in this subpart. 
 
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