The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has notified industry of its plans to cancel a registrant’s Food Facility Registration for failure to provide a Unique Facility Identifier (UFI) Number that corresponds to a facility’s name and physical address as they appear in FDA’s registration database.   

FDA has also set a strict deadline to comply with their mandate to both ensure and enforce that information is accurate and updated in a timely manner. Failure to update by the deadline could result in cancellation of your Food Facility Registration, lengthy delays in the customs entry process, and unnecessary frustration for importers.  

However, avoiding the cancellation of your Food Facility Registration (FFR) is not only simple; it’s also imperative to keep shipments moving and stakeholders happy.  

Here is everything you need to know: 

What Happens If I Don’t Update My DUNS Information? 

Facilities engaging in manufacturing, processing, packing or storing food intended for consumption in the United States by humans or animals are required to register with FDA as Food Facilities. If you fail to update your registration with accurate UFI number information —your DUNS number, as it’s currently the only UFI recognized by FDA— your registration will be canceled and removed from the FDA database until reinstated. 

You will no longer legally be allowed to market your products to the United States until you go through the entire registration process again and regain a valid UFI Number.   

Continued shipping to the U.S. without valid registration could result in spoiled, destroyed, or returned cargo after it is refused entry at the port. Not only will they keep your product in detention until you validate, you could also be charged demurrage fees. 

If you don’t update your DUNS by the established deadline, you could be looking at costly delays, compounding fees, and loss of business due to a damaged reputation. 

When Will FDA Begin the Food Facility Registration Purge Over UFIs? 

The FFR regulation mandated by FDA requires that, starting October 1, 2020, all facilities are required to provide an accurate UFI that is recognized by FDA. As mentioned earlier, the only recognized UFI number is the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS). 

FDA intends to enforce this requirement to help verify the existence and operations of registered food facilities. 

Recipients of FDA’s email titled “ACTION REQUIRED: Accurate Unique Facility Identifier (UFI)” must be submitted before September 15, 2023. Failure to update the registration with an accurate DUNS number in accordance with FDA regulations before this deadline will result in cancellation of the registration. 

Act Now & Avoid Cancellation of Your Food Facility Registration 

FDA began enforcing the new UFI Number policy in March 2023. The agency continues monitoring its registration database to ensure that facilities have properly verified their existence and operations by obtaining a DUNS number with Dun & Bradstreet. To date, DUNS numbers are the only UFI deemed acceptable by FDA. 

Avoid unnecessary penalties by assuring your Unique Facility Identifier is up to date.  

Registrar Corp has spent the last 20 years helping companies navigate the complexities of FDA compliance — we’re a dedicated resource you can count on. We invite you to discover how we can help you stay ahead of enforcement actions and keep your food facility registration in good standing.