Food Facilities Must Renew FDA Registration By Year's End

U.S. and foreign human and animal food facilities that are required to register with the U.S. FDA must renew their registration before December 31, 2020. If a food facility does not renew by that date, the FDA will consider the registration to be expired. There is no fee associated with registration or renewal.

Owners and operators of food facilities must submit their renewal information electronically through their FDA Industry Systems account, unless they have received a waiver to submit a paper submission.

Starting this year, all facilities must include a unique facility identifier recognized as acceptable to the FDA with the registration submission. The requirement is being introduced in accordance with the 2016 rulemaking implementing the food facility registration provisions in the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.  The UFI will be used to verify that the facility-specific address associated with the UFI is the same address associated with the facility’s registration. To date, the FDA recognizes the Data Universal Numbering System number, assigned and managed by Dun & Bradstreet, as an acceptable UFI.

While the FDA expects all registrants to provide their DUNS number with their registration or renewal submission before December 31, 2020, the Agency recognizes that there may be a delay in obtaining a DUNS number. To address stakeholder concerns with obtaining a DUNS number in a timely manner, the FDA has released guidance with information on what facilities should do if they are unable to obtain a DUNS number prior to the end of the renewal period.

Food facility registration helps the FDA determine the location and source of foodborne illness outbreak or potential bioterrorism incidents, and also helps the agency quickly notify facilities that may be affected. Food facility registration requirements were initiated with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and amended by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act in 2011. More information here.

Related: FDA Recognizes Essential Food, Agriculture Workers; FSMA Food Traceability Proposed Rule: What You Should Know.

from Industry Operations https://ift.tt/3oe3Sgf