Foreign Supplier Verification Program from FDA is part of Food Safety Modernization Act. This regulation applies to food made in a foreign country and offered for sale on the US market.
FSVP regulation introduced a new responsibility for food importers in ensuring the food they import is made under the same level of food safety standards as food produced in the US. This concept requires the importers to be qualified individuals and conduct several activities to confirm safety and legality of imported food.
Under FSVP requirements the importer must conduct hazard analysis of imported food, evaluate and approve potential foreign suppliers, verify the supplier is controlling identified hazards, take corrective actions and reevaluate their program at least every 3 years. In conducting those activities, the importers must be qualified to properly evaluate foreign suppliers’ food safety system and generate adequate records showing the activities were completed properly.
To become qualified individual FDA allows training, education and experience in conducting FSVP activities but there is no requirement to undergo training according to standardized curriculum recognized by FDA. That requirement is however included in other food safety regulations under FSMA such as preventive controls or intentional adulteration.
Importers must also be familiar with FDA food safety regulations that specifically relate to the product they import. Depending on the product categories, some importers may be verifying their foreign suppliers for compliance with several food safety regulations. This is not an easy task as FDA regulatory system tends to be quite complicated.
There are number of training courses that can help importers to gain knowledge regarding FSVP activities. In most cases education starts with taking basic HACCP workshop. This 2-day course teaches the concept of a food safety system with supporting elements (GMPs and PRPs) and HACCP plans built with 7 HACCP principles. Since most of the food imported to US is covered by Preventive Controls regulations, importers more often take PCQI training to better understand food safety requirements their foreign suppliers must meet. Finally, FSPCA’s FSVP training course is quite popular among importers. This training is not required to become a qualified individual but instead teaches about foreign supplier verification program regulatory requirement and all the above activities an importer must conduct. Participants have an opportunity to practice some of the activities required by the rule.
Since pandemic the FDA has been conducting about 2000 FSVP regulatory inspections each year. FDA is expected to heavily use enforcement tools in response to deficiencies found during inspections.
Over the years awareness of the regulatory requirement increased, however still many importers are not familiar with FSVP regulation. Here at BD Food Safety Consultants our team of experts assist food importers in completing their FSVP program. We teach variety of food safety course to help importers to become qualified individuals and offer consulting plans to maintain an accurate foreign supplier verification program. Contact us today for more information via our website or call 815-641-6404.