On May 30, 2017, compliance begins for the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Rule. This rule imposes sweeping new changes on food importers and requires review and assessment of the food safety practices of foreign suppliers and their compliance history. Foreign suppliers must be approved pursuant to a written program before sourcing. The rule also requires new information to be submitted for customs entries: the FSVP importer—the person responsible for FSVP compliance—must now be declared for each importation of FDA-regulated food (including dietary supplements) unless exempt.
U.S. Food Imports LLC (USFI) has received a number of questions relating to which food items from which supplier categories are subject to the rule on May 30, 2017 (the first compliance date) and future compliance dates. USFI has put together a comprehensive FSVP compliance timetable available here that should be helpful to many importers.
USFI assists firms with FSVP compliance, including providing FSVP agent services, and compliance with other FDA, USDA and CBP requirements related to food imports. Please contact Erik Lieberman at elieberman1@usfoodimports.com or 202.765.1800 for additional information.