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 In this section:

                Importing Food Products into the United States

Importing Food Products into the United States

                        Prior Notice of Imported Foods
          Filing Prior Notice of Imported Foods
          Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP)
          Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP): Public List of Approved VQIP Importers
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Public Registry of Accredited Third-Party Certification Bodies
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Public Registry of Recognized Accreditation Bodies
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Voluntary Audit Templates
          Foreign Suppliers Verification Programs (FSVP) - List of Participants
          Foreign Suppliers Verification Programs (FSVP) - Importer Portal for Records Submission
          FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food Home
          Food
          Guidance & Regulation (Food and Dietary Supplements)
          Food Imports & Exports
          Importing Food Products into the United States
          Quick Start Guide for Prior Notice for Food Articles in the Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI)Importing Food Products into the United States Quick Start Guide for Prior Notice for Food Articles in the Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI)
  
  	
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Prior Notice — Before you begin

Choose the LOGIN button from the FDA Industry Systems page, or the Prior Notice of Imported Foods Homepageto get to the Login page. Login with your account ID and Password. (For help with creating an account, see the Create New Account Quick Start Guide.

Choose Prior Notice from the list of FDA Unified Registration and Listing Systems - It is under Other FDA Systems.

Note: Required information will have an * next to the data box; all other data is optional.

Prior Notice — Step 1

For a new Prior Notice submission, select "Create New Web Entry."
	If you have already started a Web Entry or Prior Notice and want to go back to it, choose either "Find Existing Web Entry" or "Find Existing Prior Notice."Prior Notice -- Step 2

Select your entry type from the pull down menu.

**ENTRY TYPES**

***Consumption*** - PNSI entry type used for imported food going directly into the commerce of the United States without any time or use restrictions placed on them by CBP. A consumption entry is the most common CBP and PNSI entry type.
	***Consumption (Express Courier)*** - Same as the Consumption entry type above with consideration made for shipments via Express Couriers who provide a tracking number instead of an Airway Bill Number or Bill of Lading number. This entry type is to be used only by shippers sending articles of food to the United States via express couriers. It is not to be used by express couriers transmitting prior notice on behalf of their customers.
	***Mail (Commercial purpose)*** – PNSI entry type for food arriving by international mail for commercial purposes.
	***Mail (Non-commercial purpose/non-commercial sender)*** – PNSI entry type for food arriving by international mail for non-commercial purposes from non-commercial senders.
	***Informal***- PNSI informal entry type covers certain commercial, non-commercial, and mail shipments, dependent on value and other restrictions, that are entered for consumption, i.e. for use or sale. In most cases informal entry can be used if the food is valued at $2000 or less with exceptions for certain food subject to quota/visa restrictions.
	***Baggage*** – PNSI entry type to be used when food is carried by or otherwise accompanies an individual and the food is for not for the personal use of the individual (for self, family members, or friends).
	***Warehouse*** – PNSI entry type for imported food sent to a bonded warehouse. Customs duties and processing fees are not paid on warehoused merchandise until the food is withdrawn for consumption. (Customs publication No. 537 explains what a bonded warehouse is, users' costs, different types of bonded warehouses, advantages to importers of using bonded warehouses; plus entry, treatment, and storage procedures for merchandise and how to establish a Customs bonded warehouse.}
	***Foreign Trade Zone*** – PNSI "entry" type for food admitted into a foreign trade zone (FTZ). FTZs are secured areas legally outside of Customs territory. Foreign or domestic food may be admitted into a FTZ without a formal Customs entry or the payment of Custom duties or government excise taxes.
	***Immediate Transportation*** – PNSI entry type for food that is transported from a port of unlading to another port for entry or disposition under bond.
	***Temporary Importation Bond (TIB)*** – PNSI entry type for food entering the U.S. temporarily and intended for re-export to the originating county, provided the food exits the United States within a certain amount of time under CBP supervision.
	***Transportation and Exportation*** – PNSI entry type for food shipped under bond from a U.S. Port of Entry to a second port for the sole purpose of export to another country.
	***Transportation and Exportation (T&E)*** - Express Courier - Same as the Transportation and Exportation (T&E) entry type above with consideration made for shipments via Express Couriers who provide a tracking number instead of an Airway Bill Number or Bill of Lading number and who do not have to provide the Ultimate Consignee. This entry type is to be used only by shippers sending articles of food to the United States via express couriers. It is not to be used by express couriers transmitting prior notice on behalf of their customers.Prior Notice -- Step 3

Web Entry (Create)

Enter the "Entry Information"
	Enter the entry identifier, if not known, select the "Not Known" box.
		Enter the number of prior notices that will be submitted with this web entry.(Note: you will need a separate prior notice for each different product, which includes if there is different size packaging or different manufacturer(s).)

Prior Notice -- Step 4

Web Entry (Create)

Enter the "Port of Arrival" information.
	Enter the "Anticipated Arrival Time" using the pull down menu.
		Enter "Anticipated Arrival Date" using the calendar icon.
		If the Port Code is not known, select the State from the pull down menu and use the "Find Port Code" button.Prior Notice -- Step 5

Web Entry (Create)

Enter the "Submitter" information.
	If you are the submitter, select "yes" as the answer to the question, "Are you the Submitter for this Web Entry?" Continue to the Importer information.
		If you are not the submitter, select "No." Select the country of the submitter from the pull down menu and select the "Enter Submitter" box.
		Provide the Business Name and Full Address and the Submitter's Name, phone number and email address.
			Select "Save."Prior Notice -- Step 6

Web Entry (Create)

Enter the "Importer" information.
	If the importer is the same as the submitter, select "yes" as the answer to the question, "Is the Importer the same as the Submitter?" Continue to the Carrier information.
		If you are not the importer, select "No." Select the country of the importer from the pull down menu and select the "Enter Importer" box.
		Provide the Name and Full Address of the importer.
			Select "Save."Prior Notice -- Step 7

Web Entry (Create)

Enter the "Carrier" information.
	Select the "Mode of Transportation" from the pull down menu and select the "Enter Carrier" box.
		Enter the SCAC or IATA code. If not known, use the Find Code button.
			If the carrier is a privately-owned vehicle, enter the Vehicle License Number and the Subdivision/State or Province that issued the license plate number, instead of entering the SCAC or IATA code.
			Enter either the Bill of Lading, Airway Bill or Tracking number, as appropriate.
			Select "Save."Prior Notice -- Step 8

Web Entry (Create)

Select Save.
	Title changes from Web Entry (Create) to Web Entry (View)
	Select the "Create Prior Notice" button.Prior Notice -- Step 9

Select “Create a Prior Notice”

Prior Notice: Article (Create)

Select the "Country from which the Article is Shipped" from the pull down menu.Prior Notice -- Step 10

Prior Notice: Article (Create)

Enter the "Product Information"
	Enter the "FDA Product Code." If not known, select the "Search Button" and build the product code.
		Enter the "Common or Usual Name/Market Name."Prior Notice -- Step 11

Prior Notice: Article (Create)

Enter the "Product Identifiers" information, if applicable.
	Select the "Add" button if the product is one that requires a lot code or production code, e.g., acidified or low acid canned foods and infant formula.Prior Notice -- Step 12

Prior Notice: Article (Create)

Enter the "Quantity and Packaging" information.
	If this is a bulk product, such as a truck load of hay, enter the amount in the base unit field, select the Measure(Unit) from the dropdown, and select the "Bulk-Shipment" button.
		For all other products, enter the base unit as the size of the smallest package.
		For example, if the shipment contains cans of soda, the base unit might be 20 ounces, fluid or, if the shipment contains bags of candy, the base unit might be 1 pound (avdp).
		Enter the quantity of food from largest container to smallest.
		For example, if the shipment contains 1000 cases and each case contains 100 bags of candy, you would enter 1000 as the "Number" and cases under the "Package Type." On the next line you would enter, 100 as the "Number" and bag as the "Package Type."
		Select "Calculate" to check the total quantity.Prior Notice -- Step 13

Prior Notice: Article (Create)

Enter the Product Refusal information
	Select "Yes" if the Article has been refused entry by any country/countries.
		If "Yes", select the country/countries from which the Article was refused entry.
		Select "No" if the Article has not been refused entry by any country/countries.
	Select “Save”
	Title changes from Prior Notice: Article (Create) to Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)Prior Notice -- Step 14

Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)

Enter the "Manufacturer" Information or the “Grower/Consolidator” Information, depending on the product.
	To enter the “Manufacturer” Information:
		Select the FDA Country of Production from the pull down menu.
			Select "Enter Manufacturer"
			Fill in the "Food Facility Registration Number," city and mail code, if applicable.
			If the food facility registration number is not known, go toward the bottom of the page and select the box for "Manufacturer is not required to register or registration number is not known."
				Select the reason the registration number is not being provided from the pull down menu.
			Enter the Name and Full Address of the manufacturer.
			Select "yes" or "no" depending on whether this manufacturer should be used as the default for all other Prior Notices associated with this web entry.
			Select "Save".
		To enter the “Grower/Consolidator” Information
		If the Grower/Consolidator is unknown, check the box, and Select Save.
			If the Grower/Consolidator is known:
			Select if it is a Grower or a Consolidator from the “Facility Type” pull down menu
				Enter the “Food Facility Registration Number”, if known.
				Enter the Name and Full address for the Grower/Consolidator.
			Select "yes" or "no" depending on whether this grower/consolidator should be used as the default for all other Prior Notices associated with this web entry.
			If this is a Grower/Consolidator you anticipate using with other Web Entries, check the box for “Add to my Favorite list”
			Select “Save”Prior Notice -- Step 15

Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)

Enter the "Shipper" Information.
	Select the Country where the Shipper's business is located from the pull down menu.
		Select "Enter Shipper"
		If the Shipper is the same facility as another entity in the entry, select it from the "Shipper same Facility as" pull down menu and select Save.
		If it is not the same facility as another entity in the entry, enter the Name and Full Address.
		Select "yes" or "no" depending on whether this Shipper should be used as the default for all other Prior Notices associated with this web entry.
		If this is a Shipper you anticipate using with other Web Entries, check the box for “Add to my Favorite list”
		Select "Save".Prior Notice -- Step 16

Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)

Enter the "Owner" Information.
	Select the Country where the Owner's business is located from the pull down menu.
		Select "Enter Owner"
		If the Owner is the same facility as another entity in the entry, select it from the "Owner same Facility as" pull down menu and select "Save".
		If it is not the same facility as another entity in the entry, enter the Name and Full Address.
		Select "yes" or "no" depending on whether this Owner should be used as the default for all other Prior Notices associated with this web entry.
		If this is an Owner you anticipate using with other Web Entries, check the box for “Add to my Favorite list”
		Select "Save".Prior Notice -- Step 17

Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)

Enter the "Ultimate Consignee" Information.
	Select "Enter Ultimate Consignee"
		If the Ultimate Consignee is the same facility as another entity in the entry, select it from the "Ultimate Consignee same Facility as" pull down menu and select Save.
		If it is not the same facility as another entity in the entry, enter the Name and Full Address.
		Select "yes" or "no" depending on whether this Ultimate Consignee should be used as the default for all other Prior Notices associated with this web entry.
		If this is an Ultimate Consignee you anticipate using with other Web Entries, check the box for “Add to my Favorite list”. Select "Save".Prior Notice -- Step 18

Prior Notice: Related Facilities (View)

Enter the "Holding Facility" information only if US Customs and Border Protection has directed this article to a holding facility.Prior Notice -- Step 19

Save Prior Notice

Select the "Save Prior Notice" button top or bottom right. This will save your Prior Notice. However, the Prior Notice will not be submitted to the FDA until you complete your Web Entry on the following pages.
	A summary screen, “Save Prior Notice?” will appear. Review the data and select "Yes" at the bottom of the page if it is correct. Choose "No" if an error is discovered. Choosing no will allow you to edit your Prior Notice or Web Entry.Prior Notice -- Step 20

Complete Web Entry

"Complete Web Entry?"
	Select "No" if you need to add more Prior Notices to this Web Entry.
		Selecting no will automatically navigate you to a screen to create an additional Prior Notice. Enter the Prior Notice information by following steps 9-19 above.
		Select "Yes" if you have no additional Prior Notices to attach to this web entry. Once you have completed your Web Entry, your Prior Notices will be submitted to FDA. Your saved Prior Notices will not be submitted to FDA until you complete your Web Entry.
		Select Print Summary to get a print out of the Prior Notice confirmation number(s) and all of the information submitted.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/16/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesTopic(s)
			  ImportImporting Food Products into the United States

          
                        Prior Notice of Imported Foods
          Filing Prior Notice of Imported Foods
          Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP)
          Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP): Public List of Approved VQIP Importers
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Public Registry of Accredited Third-Party Certification Bodies
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Public Registry of Recognized Accreditation Bodies
          Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Voluntary Audit Templates
          Foreign Suppliers Verification Programs (FSVP) - List of Participants
          Foreign Suppliers Verification Programs (FSVP) - Importer Portal for Records Submission
          FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food
 
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