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:

                Search for FDA Guidance Documents

Search for FDA Guidance Documents

                        Search General and Cross-Cutting Topics Guidance Documents
          Advisory Committee Guidance Documents
          Import and Export Guidance Documents
          Cross-cutting Guidance Documents Home
          Regulatory Information
          Search for FDA Guidance Documents
          Guidance for Industry: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and AnimalsSearch for FDA Guidance Documents GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
	Guidance for Industry: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals
					
		
		January 2023


	Download the  Final Guidance Document
	    
      	      		Read the Federal Register Notice 

    Final

	  
	  
	Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintDocket Number:
		    FDA-2017-D-5225
	    	    		    Issued by:
		    Guidance Issuing Office
          Center for Veterinary Medicine
          Office of Regulatory Affairs
          Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition


The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for industry on the requirements for a foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L, that importers of human or animal food must establish and follow to ensure that each food they import into the United States meets applicable U.S. requirements and is not adulterated or (for human food) misbranded with respect to allergen labeling.

In general, FDA’s guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word *should*in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.

This guidance provides questions and answers to facilitate importers’ understanding of the FSVP requirements.[1] The pronouns “I,” “me,” and “you” are used in this guidance to refer to the importer. “Agency” and the pronouns “we” and “our” are used to refer to FDA. The term “food” includes food for humans and animals and has the meaning given in section 201(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 321(f)), except that, for the purposes of FSVP, “food” does not include pesticides as defined in 7 U.S.C. 136(u) (21 CFR 1.500). “Food” includes:

Articles used for food or drink for man or other animals,
	Chewing gum, and
	Articles used for components of any such article.Download the Guidance

[1] Because FDA’s FSVP regulations pertain to the importation of human and animal food, they contain several terms that are similar or similar-sounding to those also used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) relating to the importation of all merchandise. However, due to the different authorities implemented by FDA and CBP, these terms may have different meanings. Where relevant, this guidance clarifies these differences in certain Questions and Answers. For guidance from CBP on basic importing and exporting, see Basic Importing and Exporting | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov).

Related Information

FSMA Rule on FSVP for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals
	Additional FSMA Guidance
	Constituent Update: FDA Issues the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals Final Guidance (January 10, 2023)Questions?

For questions regarding this document, you may contact the FSMA Technical Assistance Network online, by mail at

Food and Drug Administration
5001 Campus Drive
Wiley Building, HFS-009
Attn: FSMA Outreach
College Park, MD, 20740

or by phone at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).


 
	Submit Comments
	   		  			    		Submit Comments Online
					You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))
						If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:
						Dockets Management
							Food and Drug Administration
							5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
							Rockville, MD 20852
						All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2017-D-5225.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      01/10/2023
         
                  
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesTopic(s)
			  ImportLaw(s) & Regulation(s)
			  Food Safety Modernization ActSearch for FDA Guidance Documents

        Search for FDA Guidance Documents

          
                        Search General and Cross-Cutting Topics Guidance Documents
          Advisory Committee Guidance Documents
          Import and Export Guidance Documents
          Cross-cutting Guidance Documents
 
 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