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Start with the owner or consignee at entry
The FSVP importer is the defined U.S. owner or consignee of the food offered for import. If none exists at entry, the role falls to the specified U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee, with the required signed consent.
A freight forwarder or foreign-facility registration contact is not automatically that importer. Identify which actual party satisfies the definition.
Verification depends on the food and supplier
An importer within scope generally must develop, maintain and follow a programme for each imported food, subject to the applicable exceptions. FDA’s overview covers qualified individuals, hazard analysis, supplier evaluation, appropriate verification, corrective action and reevaluation.
A fictional brand sends packaged snacks to a U.S. partner for resale. Its food, producer, U.S. purchaser at entry and available verification evidence must be identified. Neither small quantity nor company size alone establishes an exemption or modified treatment. One certificate is not automatically the programme, but neither does every case require the same audit or a separate physical document for each food/supplier combination.
The programme does not replace entry information
Each line entry needs the required importer name, email and FDA-acceptable unique facility identifier, and designation where relevant before import. Labelling, prior notice, facility registration and other admissibility duties remain separate.
Specified USDA-regulated meat, poultry and egg products fall outside FSVP under the stated exemptions. That does not make them unrestricted imports.
Scope
- This does not determine a food category, hazard, small-importer or supplement exception, complete USDA treatment or shipment admissibility.
Next step
Identify the defined FSVP importer and the food/supplier verification responsibility before dispatching the snacks or other food.
Sources & review notes
Food and Drug Administration
Passage, dates and research notes
primary · §§1.500, 1.501, 1.502(a), 1.509
U.S. owner or consignee
Scoped review of importer definition, scope/exceptions, general program duty and importer identification. Certain USDA-regulated meat, poultry and egg products are exempt from FSVP; this does not exempt them from import law. No complete food-category, hazard, dietary-supplement or small-importer assessment.
Food and Drug Administration
Passage, dates and research notes
official-guidance · Importer, verification, exemptions and modified requirements
qualified individual
Read complete main overview: qualified individuals, hazard/supplier evaluation, verification, corrective action and reevaluation, exemptions/modified duties, UFI. No automatic annual audit, small-importer exemption or all-food clearance inferred.
Detailed rule records (1)
FSVP generally requires the defined importer to develop, maintain and follow a program for each food, subject to exemptions/modified requirements. The importer is the U.S. owner/consignee at entry or, if none, the designated U.S. agent/representative of the foreign owner/consignee with signed consent.
21 CFR Part 1 Subpart L: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs FSVP final rule at a glanceKeep this reading in your learning library.
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