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FDA Issues Final Guidance for Foreign Supplier Verification Programs

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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The final guidance includes recommendations on the requirements to analyze the hazards in food; evaluate a potential foreign supplier’s performance and the risk posed by the food; and determine and conduct appropriate foreign supplier verification activities.

The FDA has issued its final guidance for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals. FSVP, which is part of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, makes importers accountable for verifying that foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner that meets U.S. safety standards.

This guidance includes recommendations on the requirements to analyze the hazards in food; evaluate a potential foreign supplier’s performance and the risk posed by the food; and determine and conduct appropriate foreign supplier verification activities.

The guidance also addresses how importers can meet modified FSVP requirements in a variety of categories, such as requirements for importers of dietary supplements or very small importers.

In response to comments received to the 2018 draft guidance, changes were made to the final guidance, including providing additional clarification regarding to what food the FSVP regulation applies; what information must be included in the FSVP; and who must develop and perform FSVP activities.

“Food” covered under FSVP includes:

  • Articles used for food or drink for humans or other animals,
  • Chewing gum, and
  • Articles used for components of any such article.

Training materials, developed in collaboration with the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), are available to help facilitate FSVP compliance by importers.

Download the final guidance here.

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