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Guidance for Industry: FDA's Voluntary Qualified Importer Program

FinalCenter for Veterinary Medicine Office of Inspections and Investigations Human Foods Program11/14/2024

Description

TheFDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)(Pub. L. 111-353) enables the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) to better protect public health by helping to ensure the safety and security of the food supply.  It enables FDA to focus more on preventing food safety problems rather than relying primarily on reacting to problems after they occur.  FSMA recognizes the important role industry plays in ensuring the safety of the food supply, including the adoption of modern systems of preventive controls in food production.  Under FSMA, those that import food have a responsibility to ensure that their suppliers produce food that meets U.S. safety standards.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

1
raw agricultural commodity

Type of food eligible for import under VQIP

Stakeholders

9
importer

Person responsible for establishing FSVP; Person in the United States who owns or has purchased the food at time of entry; entity responsible for FSVP compliance; Entity responsible for FSVP compliance; Entity responsible for conducting hazard analysis; Subject of FSVP requirements for food for humans and animals.; The entity responsible for FSVP compliance and supplier approval.; entity responsible for foreign supplier verification; entity responsible for developing FSVP; entity responsible for

HACCP importer

Importer subject to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point regulations

FSVP importer

The entity responsible for developing and implementing an FSVP.; entity responsible for foreign supplier verification

VQIP Importer

The applicant participating in the program

filer/broker

responsible for submission to CBP

foreign supplier

Entity being verified by the importer; The establishment that manufactures, processes, raises, or grows the food.; entity producing food outside the US; entity being verified by the importer; Entity being evaluated and verified by the importer.; The establishment that manufactures or processes food for export to the US.; entity supplying food from outside the United States; The entity producing the food outside the U.S.; entity being verified under FSVP; entity providing food to the importer; en

importer of record

Entity filing documentation with CBP

certification body

accredited under TPP to issue facility certifications

accredited CB

Accredited third-party certification body; CB accredited under TPP

Regulatory Context

Attributes

3
VQIP User Fees

Financial requirement for participating in the voluntary program.

VQIP user fee

Annual fee required to cover FDA's costs of administering the program

VQIP fiscal year

October 1 through September 30 of the following year

Identified Hazards

Hazards

5
public health risk

Complaints regarding submitters that indicate safety issues

safety deviation

may need to obtain a new facility certification if a safety deviation occurs

food safety deviation

Non-compliance by a foreign supplier impacting eligibility

Intentional Adulteration

Risks addressed by food defense systems

risk to public health

determines if VQIP food is subject to for cause examination

Related CFR Sections (5)

Related Warning Letters (10)

  • Seafood HACCP/CGMP for Foods/Adulterated/Insanitary Conditions

    Harbor Marine Product Inc.

    2025-12-16
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Ocho Rios Atlanta Inc.

    2025-11-18
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    East Bay Wholesale Corporation

    2025-11-04
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Adja Khady Food Distribution Inc

    2025-10-07
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Life Wholesale

    2025-10-07
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Delicias Del Country USA Inc

    2025-09-30
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Ever Rich Foods LLC

    2025-09-30
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    DingMoo LLC DBA Dingman’s Dairy

    2025-09-16
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Jalisco Fresh Produce, Inc.

    2025-09-09
  • Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)

    Eurobread Inc. dba First Harvest

    2025-08-26

See Also (8)