Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                CFSAN Constituent Updates

CFSAN Constituent Updates Home
          Food
          News & Events from CFSAN
          CFSAN Constituent Updates
          FDA Releases Final Guidance for Voluntary Qualified Importer ProgramCFSAN Constituent Updates FDA Releases Final Guidance for Voluntary Qualified Importer Program
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintConstituent Update

November 10, 2016

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing final guidance for industry for a voluntary, fee-based program to allow the expedited review and importation of foods into the United States from importers with a proven track record of food safety and security. The final guidance **is in question-and-answer format** to explain how this program will work.

The Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) will benefit both industry and consumers. Expedited entry provides importers an incentive to adopt a robust system of supply chain management and will allow FDA to focus its resources on examining and sampling food imports that are more likely to present a potential risk to public health.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in January 2011, provides the FDA with authority to ensure that foods imported into the United States meet the same safety standards as those set for domestically produced foods.

In addition to establishing mandatory standards for importers of food under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), FSMA also requires the FDA to establish VQIP for importers who achieve and maintain a high level of control over the safety and security of their supply chains. This control includes the import of food from facilities, including farms, that have been certified under FDA’s Accredited Third-Party Certification regulation as following appropriate food safety practices.

benefits VQIP importers can expect to receive;
	eligibility criteria;
	instructions for completing a VQIP application;
	conditions that could result in revocation of VQIP participation; and
	criteria for VQIP reinstatement following revocation.**FDA plans to begin accepting applications for VQIP on January 1, 2018 for participation in fiscal year 2019 beginning October 1, 2018.** The agency encourages food importers with robust supplier verification programs to apply for participation in VQIP.

**Additional Information**

Final Guidance for Industry: FDA’s Voluntary Qualified Importer Program
	Final Guidance Fact Sheet
	Instructions for Submitting the VQIP Application
	Webinar on the Final Guidance for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program
	Federal Register Notice

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      12/29/2017
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesCFSAN Constituent Updates
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop