Yesterday, on May 10, 2021, the FDA opened the FSVP Importer Portal for FSVP Records Submission (the Portal) for importers of human and animal food into the U.S.

By way of background, the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requires that importers verify that the food which they import provides the same level of public health protection as the preventive controls or produce safety regulations (as appropriate) in the U.S. and to ensure that supplier’s food is not adulterated and is not misbranded with respect to allergen labeling.

While the FDA typically conducts inspections of FSVP records at an importer’s place of business, the importer must provide the records electronically or through another means of prompt delivery if requested by the FDA. See 21 C.F.R. § 1.510(b)(3) (“How must I maintain records of my FSVP?”). The Portal now provides a streamlined means by which importers can provide FDA with FSVP records electronically.

The Portal can be accessed here and a user guide for the Portal is available here.