USFDA launches export certification programme for food

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has launched an export certification programme to help the country’s food exporters in meeting the importing country’s requirements.

This certification, which has been issued under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), will provide a new approach to the US companies that helps to simplify their food exports process to other countries.

USFDA will collect certain fees for issuance of the new export certificates.

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said: “We anticipate that this new export certification will facilitate trade by assisting US food exporters in fulfilling importing country requirements for FDA certification of FDA-regulated food products.

“While American food standards are among the most stringent in the world, the FDA recognises that some US trading partners seek additional assurance that imported food products are produced under applicable requirements, and may request specific language or product information on export certificates.

“The new export certification programme will continue FDA’s efforts to help facilitate American global exports and boost our nation’s economy.”

Beginning from October, FDA will issue export certificates.

Certification will complement the export certifications for food products that are currently issued by other US Government agencies.

FDA also stated that the existing arrangements for certain food commodities with other government agencies will remain the same.

Congress included a new statutory provision to the FD&C Act in 1996 as per which a exporting company could seek the FDA to issue a certificate that the exported product meets certain requirements. Following this request, the FDA will issue a certification within 20 days if the product meets those requirements.

The FDA could charge up to $175 for each certification. However, this provision did not include FDA-regulated foods.

In 2011, when Congress passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), it included foods to the list.

The FDA’s new export certification programme will implement the FSMA amendment. Before the introduction of the new certification, FDA issued other certificates for exported foods.