Financial Times

New FDA regulations for US imports
Beginning December 12, 2003, exporters that manufacture, process, pack or hold food products for the U.S. must register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide the FDA prior notice of the content of their shipments.

The FDA's registration system, one of the key provisions of the U.S. Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), is part of a regulation that requires domestic and foreign food facilities to register with the agency by December 12, 2003.

A US embassy statement said in addition to the registration rule, the FDA issued a second regulation to enhance the safety and security of the food supply. The rule requires that the FDA be provided advance notice of shipments of human and animal food being exported or offered for export to the US, also effective as of December 12, 2003.

This notification is to be done electronically through the existing Customs automated service, or directly with FDA. The timeframe for notification varies with the mode of transport, but must be within five days of arrival.

Nearly 20% of all imports into the U.S. are food and food products. The U.S. government passed the Bio-terrorism Act as part of its ongoing effort to combat terrorism. The law requires the FDA receive prior notice of import shipments to allow for more effective inspections, and therefore to help protect the food supply against terrorist acts and other public health emergencies.

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