Read our blog on global importing compliance issues and the latest food safety news.
COVID-19 has somewhat over-shadowed Brexit since early 2020 but with Brexit now looming over the UK, food businesses are facing even more uncertain prospects. Single market access is still a major outstanding issue, meaning that the future of the UK food & Beverage exports is a risk too far for many after recent events.
Responsibilities of The FSVP Importer (Agent) And Consequences of Non-Compliance
Understanding precisely who is responsible for the different aspects of FSVP and under which circumstances is important.
The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) became effective on 27th May and is the main regulation governing all food, beverage and dietary supplements imported to the U.S under the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
Federal Regulations require commercial processors of shelf stable acidified foods and low-acid canned foods in a hermetically sealed container to be sold in the United States to register each establishment and file scheduled processes with the Food and Drug Administration for each product, product style, container size and type and processing method (21 CFR 108).
Exporting certain human and animal foods to the USA is subject to compliance with the FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) requirements of the US Food Safety Modernization Act 2011 (FSMA).
Whilst there are some similarities between FSVP plans, there is no definitive format. Each FSVP plan must be designed for your situation otherwise it will fall foul of FDA sanctions at some point.
The new FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) means that many businesses in the USA, and throughout the world, are being inspected by the FDA for the first time.
