FDA to Accept DUNS Number for FSVP Importer ID Beginning May 30
As expected, the Food and Drug Administration will accept Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers issued by Dun & Bradstreet as an acceptable unique identifier for the purposes of importer identification under the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs, it said in a guidance document (here). Importers will be required to implement FSVPs for each foreign food supplier subject to the FSVP regulations beginning on May 30, 2017. Compliance dates are staggered, depending on the type of food and size of the importer and supplier, through July 2020 (see 1602120038). Once compliance with FSVP requirements is required, the FSVP importer’s name, electronic mailing address, and unique facility identifier (e.g., DUNS number) must be filed for each line at time of entry, FDA has said (here).
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The FSVP importer is not necessarily the importer of record, but rather the U.S. party with a direct financial interest in the imported food (i.e., the U.S. owner or consignee or the foreign owner or consignee’s U.S. agent) (see 1511160014). FSVP importers that anticipate that they will be unable to use a DUNS number should contact FDA’s Division of Import Operations at 1-301-796-0356 or via email at FDAImportsInquiry@fda.hhs.gov prior to offering products for import, FDA said in the guidance.