Hampton, Virginia – The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and Registrar Corp are pleased to announce a partnership to assist members and their foreign suppliers fulfill FDA food facility registration renewal and U.S. Agent requirements.
Facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or store seafood for human or animal consumption must renew their existing food facility registrations with FDA before December 31, 2012, and biennially thereafter.
Following a 22-day delay, FDA's registration renewal system began to function on October 23, 2012. The renewal process does require current registrants to submit additional information and to consent to FDA inspection.
All facilities located outside the United States must appoint a U.S. Agent for FDA communications. The U.S. Agent for FDA communications serves a different function than an importer, customs broker, or commercial distributor. FDA sends communications to the designated U.S. Agent, including information regarding inspections, often requiring an immediate response.
FDA is also authorized under FSMA to charge for re-inspections of facilities, and in the case of foreign facilities to send the invoice for re-inspections to the U.S. Agent. FDA will charge $221 per hour if domestic travel is required and $289 per hour if foreign travel is required. Under FSMA, FDA is mandated to increase foreign inspections from 600 inspections in 2011 to 19,200 per year by 2016.
As part of Registrar Corp's U.S. Agent service, the company will dispatch a food safety expert trained in FDA inspections to a client's foreign facility to help prepare if a notice of FDA inspection was received after October, 1, 2012. This assistance is included at no additional charge other than travel and lodging expenses.
About Registrar Corp
Registrar Corp provides compliance services for manufacturers, exporters, and importers of products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Registrar Corp is headquartered in Hampton, Virginia and has nineteen worldwide offices. Registrar Corp’s staff includes former U.S. FDA officials, scientists, and Regulatory Specialists.
About NFI
The National Fisheries Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to education about seafood safety, sustainability, and nutrition. From vessels at sea to your favorite seafood restaurant, our diverse member companies bring delicious fish and shellfish to American families.
Source: National Fisheries Institute