For International Food Show Exhibitors
New FDA Rule Affects Exhibitors of Foreign Food at U.S. Trade Shows
If you’re an international food supplier that will exhibit in the United States, it’s necessary to plan your food safety programs in accordance with recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
The FDA finalized its Food Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) for foreign food suppliers in 2017, with some extensions of time for certain groups. The extension for small businesses expired on March 19, 2018. The FDA mandates that foreign food producers/suppliers intending to import foods into the United States (either for sampling/marketing purposes at trade shows or for commercial sale), must appoint a FSVP Importer based in this country. A FSVP Importer verifies that the imported food adheres to U.S. food safety standards and is responsible for communicating with the FDA.
How TRGI Helps Food Show Exhibitors as a FSVP Importer
The Radius Group, Inc.(TRGI), a FSVP Importer with strong trade show expertise, was recently appointed by the Specialty Food Association to provide guidance to international exhibitors on these new FDA requirements, and to serve, when requested, in the capacity of a FSVP importer. Foreign food entries without a U.S.-based FSVP Importer can be denied entry into the country, unless an exemption has been granted. TRGI worked with many exhibitors at the Winter Fancy Food Show and is now assisting foreign exhibitors participating at the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show.
We work with foreign food manufacturers & importers to:
- Ensure that a food supplier’s production standards comply with U.S. law
- Confirm that the supplier follows a written set of procedures, a food safety plan, for each food brought into the U.S.
- Review that the supplier has properly developed HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Plan)
- Verify that the food is not adulterated or mislabeled, and that products have lawful allergen labeling
- Serve as a foreign food facility registration and communication agent, responding to FDA inquiries or facilitating food facility registration including renewal
