CORTEZ News Article



New Regulations on Food Imports
		Published 20030415
		Mark.Schmittling@CORTEZteam.com

As a reminder to importers of food products, note that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will significantly change regulations for importing food. These changes will go in effect by December 2003. For food importers, two of these changes merit attention: All United States and foreign facilities manufacturing, processing, packing or holding human or animal food for U.S. consumption must register with the FDA. Importers of food products must give notice to FDA prior to the arrival into the United States of the imported food products. This pre-alert of importation of food products must be submitted for all imported food products, whether human or animal, and it includes in-bond importations not destined for consumption in the United States. All facilities related to food manufacture or handling will be required to register. Exceptions include farms, fishing vessels that transport and harvest fish or "facilities regulated exclusively by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the Egg Products Inspection Act." The FDA expects to have a computer system up and running to accommodate the registration of foreign and domestic facilities. The tentative registration date is October 12, 2003 and will be done electronically. Foreign facilities subject to registration may appoint a U.S. agent to register on their behalf. Please note: failure to register would be considered grounds for filing criminal or civil changes against the party that fails to register. In providing information to the FDA prior to a food product arriving into the United States, food importers should take heed that: Importers or purchasers are responsible for submitting the prior notice to arrival; amendments and updates are allowed on the prior notice. The FDA deems the port of entry as the port where the food product first arrives and not where the U.S. Customs entry is filed. The prior notice of importation applies to all food products except food carried by an individual traveler for personal consumption and foods subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the USDA under the meat, poultry or eggs protocols mentioned above. The prior notice must be submitted no sooner that five (5) days prior to, and no later than noon the calendar day before the day of arrival. We will provide you with more details on these new regulations as they develop.

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