DUNS Number: Why Food Businesses Need One
Food companies exporting to and doing business in the United States, are likely to be asked a DUNS number (aka D-U-N-S Number®). Let’s review the key points about these numbers:
- What is a DUNS number?
- How does Dun & Bradstreet assign DUNS numbers?
- Why do food industry businesses need them?
- How do I see if our company has one?
- Does it cost anything to get the number?
- How do we get one?
What is a DUNS number?
DUNS is the Data Universal Numbering System known as D-U-N-S®. It is a nine-digit unique identifying number for business locations. The Dun & Bradstreet corporation, a business data and analytics firm, issues the numbers.
How does Dun & Bradstreet Assign DUNS numbers?
Dun & Bradstreet assigns a number to each business location. For example a firm may have one number for their headquarters office location and another for a warehouse they own and operate.
Why do food industry businesses need a DUNS number?
Businesses in the food industry need DUNS numbers to comply with two different U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements:
- Food Facility Registration
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program
Food Facility Registration
All U.S. and foreign facilities that process, pack or hold food for consumption in the U.S. are required to register with FDA. You register food facilities through the FDA FURLS portal. After successfully registering your facility you will receive a food facility registration number. Your food facility registration number is an eleven-digit number that you must provide for most shipments of food to the U.S. You must submit a DUNS associated with the address of the facility to register with FDA. FDA recognizes the DUNS number as a “unique facility identifier or UFI. Note: Foreign facilities must name a U.S. agent to represent them and serve as a point of contact for FDA. We provide this service.
Foreign Supplier Verification Program
All FSVP importers are required to have a DUNS number. Most entries of FDA-regulated food products require an FSVP importer to be declared. You must list the FSVP importer along with their DUNS in the entry.
How do I see if our company has a DUNS number?
You can search here on the Dun & Bradstreet website.
Does it cost anything to get a DUNS number?
No. You can obtain a number for free. You must pay a fee however to get a number on an expedited basis.
How do we get a DUNS number?
You can get a DUNS number for FDA compliance for free directly from Dun & Bradstreet here.