FDA WANTS SHIPPERS TO PROVIDE PRIOR NOTICE OF IMPORTED FOOD

FDA WANTS SHIPPERS TO PROVIDE PRIOR NOTICE OF IMPORTED FOOD    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would require “U.S. purchasers, importers or their agents” to submit prior notice of the importation of food to the FDA.
   The new regulation implements the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which requires prior notification of imported food to begin by Dec. 13.
   The purchaser or importer of an article of food who generally resides in, or maintains a place of business, in the U.S. has responsibility for submitting the notice. Previously, the FDA considered making the carrier of the food responsible for notification.
   Notice must be submitted to the FDA by noon of the calendar day before the day of arrival. Notification must be electronic, by means of the FDA’s Prior Notice System, unless the FDA system should not be functioning.
   The FDA wants to know U.S. Customs entry numbers and FDA product codes associated with the imported food, as well as the quantity “described from the smallest package size to the largest container,” and various facts of origin.
   The proposed regulation would not apply to food carried by an individual into the United States in personal baggage for that person’s own use, nor to meat, poultry and egg products that at the time of importation are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
   For more information, contact Mary Ayling, of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, at (301) 436-2428