FSVP agent service for importing food products into the United States

Companies that do not have their own importer in the United States must appoint an FSVP agent responsible for verifying foreign suppliers. It is impossible to import food products into the U.S. without a designated FSVP agent.

ExportUSA offers the FSVP agent service to foreign companies that need to import food products into the United States.

What is the FSVP and why is it required?

The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) is a crucial component of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), aimed at ensuring that imported food products meet FDA safety standards. Importers subject to FSMA regulations must have an FSVP program in place to verify foreign suppliers. Companies without their own importer in the U.S. must appoint an FSVP agent responsible for foreign supplier verification activities.

Topics covered in this page about the FSVP agent service for the U.S. market:

• Who is the FSVP agent and what are their responsibilities?
• How the FSVP agent service works
• Cost of the FSVP agent service
• FSVP customs documentation
• Need for an FSVP agent
• FSVP compliance requirement for imports

Who is the FSVP agent and what are their responsibilities?

The FSVP agent is responsible for managing the food safety documentation to demonstrate the foreign supplier verification process. The services provided by the FSVP agent include:

• Acting as a representative of the foreign manufacturer that wants to export to the U.S., maintaining the necessary documentation for supplier verification.
• Assessing compliance requirements with the FDA.
• Assisting exporting companies, including creating procedures to verify FSVP import requirements.

How the FSVP agent service works

ExportUSA serves as an FSVP agent for international companies, maintaining supplier verification documentation. Before acting as an FSVP agent, it may be necessary to provide documentation related to food safety and quality. After a formal assessment of these documents, we can operate as your FSVP importer.

Cost of the FSVP agent service

The fee for FSVP agent services depends on the product category and the expected annual sales volume in the United States. To receive a proposal for FSVP agent services, please contact ExportUSA through the contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

FSVP customs documentation

As a designated and qualified FSVP agent, ExportUSA will complete all necessary actions to ensure that imported products meet FSVP regulatory requirements. This includes creating and maintaining FSVP plans for each product line and providing the manufacturer with a signed Letter of Acceptance, confirming our role as the FSVP agent for the importation of each product.

The FSVP acceptance letter issued to the manufacturer contains all necessary information for customs clearance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Need for an FSVP agent

An FSVP agent or U.S. representative is required under FSVP regulations when there is no importer of record at the time of importation into the U.S.

FSVP compliance requirement for imports

The FSVP program is mandatory to import food products into the United States.