Final guidance for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Human and Animals was issued on Tuesday, January 10, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The guidance provides information for human and animal food importers about how to comply with FSVP regulations, including those for importers of dietary supplements or very small importers, to ensure the safety and security of food imported into the U.S. It provides recommendations including, but not limited to, the following:
- Requirements to analyze hazards in food,
- evaluate a potential foreign supplier’s performance and the risk posed by a food,
- and determine and conduct appropriate foreign supplier verification activities.
You can download the Final Guidance Document and read the Federal Register Notice here. The FDA and Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) have worked together to develop training materials and resources to assist importers with FSVP compliance.