Time is Running Out – Renew Your Registration of Food Facilities Now!

This is an old blog we lost during our transfer of site hosting.

The 2016 Food Facility Registration biennial renewal period is wrapping up! In January of 2011 the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) was signed into law. It designated a renewal period spanning from 12:00 AM on October 1st to 11:59 PM on December 31st. If an importer’s registration is not renewed during this time, it will be completely removed from the account due to expiration.

The registration renewal window occurs in the same October-December window of every even-numbered year. If you don’t renew in time there is no planned extension; This is not something to put on the back burner! Be sure to note that renewing a registration is a completely different process than updating a registration. You are unable to update without renewal first. On the FFRM main menu, the “Update Facility Registration” button will remain hidden until your registration renewal has been processed.

The main effect that the FSMA had on the shipping industry is that it mandated that any domestic or foreign facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States must register with the FDA. If a company meets these requirements but doesn’t renew in time, all food imported from the source is subject to be held at the port upon arrival in the U.S. Because of the severity of this risk, import brokers are encouraged to take early action and contact any clients who import high-volume food shipments and be sure they are updated where they need to be. Clarify that the renewal status is properly associated with their shipments, confirm any new registration numbers, and do so before 2017 rolls around and you’ll be in the clear!

If you have any questions about renewal, updating, or whether or not you meet the requirements contact us and we will gladly help you navigate these regulations.