Dear Importers,
Please note the FDA has made it mandatory for all importers bringing in any FDA regulated commodities into the United States obtain a DUNS Number assigned and managed by Dun & Bradstreet. The DUNS number must be obtained by no later than May 30th, 2017.
Below please find the official notice provided by the FDA regarding this matter which also includes instructions as to how to obtain and register for a DUNS number.
As your U.S. Customs Broker, please be sure to provide us with your DUNS number once obtained as we must include this information when we file entry.
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions or concerns.
Thank you and kind regards.
FDA Recognizes DUNS Number as Acceptable for Importer Identification
[FDA][03/31/2017 11:12]
Constituent Update
March 31, 2017
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took a step towards ensuring the accuracy of its inventory of importers responsible for meeting the requirements of the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule.
The FDA issued guidance formally recognizing the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as an acceptable unique facility identifier (UFI) for FSVP. The identification of importers will help the FDA effectively implement, monitor compliance with, and enforce the FSVP requirements, which are designed to help ensure that imported foods meet U.S. safety standards.
The final FSVP rule, mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires that an importer provide its legal business name, electronic mailing address, and UFI recognized as acceptable by the FDA for each line entry of food product offered for importation into the United States. In the preamble to the final rule, FDA stated that it anticipated issuing guidance specifying which UFI(s) we recognize as acceptable and that we expected to recognize DUNS numbers as acceptable.
The DUNS number, assigned and managed by Dun & Bradstreet, is available free of charge to importers. It can be obtained by contacting D&B by phone at 866-705-5711, via email at govt@dnb.com, by visiting D&B’s Website or fdadunslookup.com.
The first compliance date for importers subject to the FSVP rule is May 30, 2017.
For More Information:
- Guidance for Industry: Recognition of Acceptable Unique Facility Identifier (UFI) for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs Regulation
- Compliance Dates for the Final Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals
- FSVP Factsheet (PDF: 265KB)
- Am I Subject to FSVP? (PDF: 69KB)
