On November 10, 2016, FDA published final guidance on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP). The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) required FDA to establish VQIP. VQIP is a voluntary, fee-based program that provides for expedited review and importation of foods from importers who import food from facilities and farms that have been certified under FDA’s Third-Party Auditing regulations, and take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of the foods they import. The VQIP program will not be available until the Third-Party Auditor Rule is implemented (with auditors/certification bodies accredited). A webinar on the VQIP program is scheduled for November 30, 2016. Details may be found here. Please see this USFI regulatory alert for more information,