For international food suppliers
Understand your FSVP pathway to the U.S. market.
Clarify who carries FSVP responsibility, what documentation is needed and whether a U.S. representative arrangement fits your proposed imports. Clearance begins with the products, suppliers and records behind the shipment.
Formal training in preventive controls, FSVP and HACCP plan development.
Importing into the U.S.? Explore FSVP support.
An inquiry does not appoint Clearance as FSVP importer. Representation requires an eligibility review, acceptance of the engagement and signed consent.
Start with responsibility, not a designation letter.
Where FSVP applies, the importer is generally the U.S. owner or consignee of the food at entry: the U.S. person who owns it, has purchased it or has agreed in writing to purchase it. If no such party exists, a U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee must consent in writing to serve as the FSVP importer. (FDA FSVP guidance)
The first discussion should therefore establish the proposed import arrangement, not assume that every foreign supplier needs an agent. Describe the products, the supplier and the role of any U.S. buyer so the appropriate questions can be identified.
Registration and FSVP are different responsibilities.
A foreign facility's FDA-registration U.S. agent acts as a communications link with FDA; an FSVP representative takes on the applicable FSVP-importer responsibilities. The same provider may hold both roles, but registration agency does not automatically establish FSVP appointment. (FDA FSVP guidance, A.17)
2026 regulatory reminder
2026 food facility registration renewal is open
Food facilities required to register with FDA must renew between October 1 and December 31, 2026. Updating a registration is not the same as completing its biennial renewal.
FDA does not charge a registration or renewal fee. Food-facility registration renewal is separate from FSVP representation.
Reviewed .
Make the documentation understandable.
A useful starting point is a clear picture of the products, suppliers, records and unresolved questions. The scope of any Clearance engagement is agreed before work begins. Depending on that scope, the work may include:
Documentation review
Assess available food-safety and supplier records and identify missing or inconsistent information.
Hazard and verification analysis
Determine the technical work needed for the foods and suppliers within the engagement.
Documented responsibilities
Clarify what Clearance will do, what information the business must provide and which decisions remain open.
Ongoing records work
Define an appropriate review and maintenance arrangement, where included in the engagement.
The objective is a program that can be understood, maintained and explained, not a collection of documents assembled without context.
Technical Expertise Meets Regulatory Reality
Clearance Consulting brings formal training in preventive controls, foreign supplier verification and HACCP plan development to the practical challenges of food safety compliance.
Technical training behind the work
The technical foundation behind the work includes completed training in:
- FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food, Version 2.0
- FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs
- HACCP Plan Development
The applicable product, process and regulatory requirements shape the scope of the work. Training is the foundation, not a promise of a particular inspection or shipment outcome.
A clear sequence before any appointment.
An inquiry begins a discussion; it does not establish an engagement. A potential representation arrangement would proceed through the following stages, subject to acceptance.
Clarify the import arrangement
Identify the products, foreign suppliers, proposed U.S. buyers and the intended division of responsibilities.
Assess the records and required work
Review available information, identify gaps and determine whether the request fits Clearance's service scope and capacity.
Agree the scope and appointment
Confirm responsibilities, fees and acceptance in writing; complete the required signed consent where a representation engagement is accepted.
Maintain the agreed program
Carry out the verification, records work and follow-up specified in the engagement, adjusting the scope when material changes require it.
Do not use Clearance's details for an FSVP entry unless the specific appointment and use of those details have been confirmed.
Begin with the essentials.
For the initial inquiry, describe your product category, supplier location, intended U.S. import arrangement and any relevant deadline. A concise explanation is enough to start.
Do not include confidential supplier records, identification documents or sensitive technical files in the general inquiry. Any detailed document request and transfer arrangements will be agreed separately.
Where relevant, a later review may request food-safety plans, process information, hazard analyses, verification records and supporting audit documentation. The document list depends on the product and agreed scope.
Fees reflect the work required.
Scope and fees are confirmed after reviewing the products, suppliers and available documentation. Relevant factors include technical complexity, the condition of existing records, the number of supplier relationships and the ongoing support required.
Any proposal should distinguish initial work from ongoing obligations and identify exclusions or separately chargeable services. An inquiry is not a commitment to a price or an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does every foreign food supplier need an FSVP representative?
No. The relevant FSVP-importer role depends on the import arrangement and whether a U.S. owner or consignee exists at entry; exemptions and modified requirements may also affect what is required. The absence of your own U.S. company does not, by itself, establish that you need a separate FSVP representative. (FDA FSVP guidance, A.2–A.4 and section A)
Can the same provider be the registration agent and FSVP representative?
Yes, but the roles are distinct. The provider must separately accept the FSVP role through the required signed consent and take on the applicable responsibilities; a facility-registration appointment alone is not enough. (FDA FSVP guidance, A.17–A.18)
Does sending an inquiry appoint Clearance?
No. Clearance must first review the request and accept an engagement before any appointment is established.
Do not list Clearance as FSVP importer or use its identifying details in entry filings without specific written confirmation.
What happens if FDA requests records?
Required records must be available promptly; the particular timing depends on the type of request and how the records are maintained. The 24-hour provision concerns offsite records, while FDA guidance generally expects records sent following a written request within 72 hours. (FDA FSVP guidance, J.4–J.5)
For any accepted engagement, responsibilities for receiving, escalating and responding to requests must be defined in advance. Clearance does not promise a universal 24-hour response service.
Does representation guarantee shipment clearance?
No. Representation is not a promise that a shipment will avoid inspection, detention or refusal.
Clearance's commitment is to the work within the accepted scope. It does not guarantee FDA decisions or uninterrupted market access.
Start with the records behind your shipment.
Tell Clearance about your products, your role in the supply chain and the support you need. Include any relevant deadline so the request can be assessed against the support available.
Need support as a U.S. importer? Explore managed FSVP.
An inquiry does not establish an engagement or confirm responsibility for a deadline. Representation requires separate review, acceptance and signed consent.