The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (“FSVP”) requires FSVP importers to verify that the food they import into the United States meets U.S. safety standards. To do so, FSVP importers are required to develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP plan for each food imported, unless an exemption applies. The goal is to ensure that each food is produced in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the preventive controls and produce safety regulations and that the food is not adulterated or misbranded with respect to allergen labeling.
The FSVP is about ensuring that imported foods meet the same level of food and safety standards that are required of food produced in the U.S. And the U.S. importer now has the responsibility of ensuring that its foreign suppliers are doing what they need to do in order to meet those requirements.
The FSVP plan must be created be a qualified individual. A qualified individual is a person who has the education, training, or experience (or a combination of these) necessary to perform an activity required under the FSVP regulation, and can read and understand the language of any records that the person must review in performing this activity.
An FSVP plan does not have a set format. However, the FSVP rules (21 CFR §1.500 et seq.) sets forth the requirements that must be met, which are set forth below. Note that these requirements also vary depending on several factors.
Rancho Consulting’s qualified individuals can help write and implement FSVP as well as perform each of the activities required under the FSVP regulation (21 CFR 1.503(a)) on behalf of your importing company. In addition, Rancho Consulting may serve as your FSVP agent or representative depending on the type of product(s) and associated level of risk. In short, Rancho Consulting is here to offer a stress-free solution to your FSVP requirements and to ensure that your products are not refused admission into the United States.
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