Published on July 27, 2017

Author: Kyley Paul

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) is mandated under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This rule makes importers of food and animal feed responsible for performing risk-based activities to ensure that food accepted into the U.S. has been produced in a manner that is consistent with U.S. domestic food safety standards, unless it is exempted from FSVP. This includes developing a verification program, evaluating the supplier's food production processes, determining risk-based or hazard analysis, and conducting supplier facility inspections.

Canadian suppliers exporting food into the U.S. should be aware that, starting on May 30, 2017, foods entering the U.S. will be subject to the FSVP. At Customs and Border Patrol, border agents will be required to identify the importer and FDA-approved unique facility identifier when accepting foods that are subject to FSVP regulation.

Importers of dietary supplements are subject to most FSVP requirements, including verifying compliance with current good manufacturing practices (CGMP). Dietary supplement importers are exempt from the hazard analysis requirement.

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