Registrar Corp often receives questions from food manufacturers about whether other companies can view their food facility’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. Unlike medical device and drug facilities, FDA Food Facility Registration data is not publicly available. FDA does not provide certification to registered food facilities and food facility registrations are not subject to under the Freedom of Information Act (21 CFR 1.243). However importers, buyers, logistics companies, customs brokers, etc. often require confirmation that a facility is compliant with FDA’s food facility registration requirement.

How can you make it easy for buyers to confirm your food facility’s FDA registration status? Keep reading to learn more.

Certificate of Registration

The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requires most food importers to provide assurances that their imported FDA-regulated food products meet FDA’s food safety standards. Likewise, most receiving food facilities must verify and approve buyers through implementation of a supply chain program. Since FDA’s regulations state that most food facilities must be registered with FDA, importers and buyers should verify that each facility from which they are receiving food has an active FDA registration.

Because buyers can not readily access a food facility’s registration status on a public database, they can not easily filter out facilities that are not registered. Instead, your buyer will need to figure out a way to obtain proof of your facility’s active FDA registration status, which can be challenging.

If you want to give buyers the ability to easily confirm that your facility is an FDA-registered establishment, you can obtain proof from a third party. For example, when you receive a Certificate of Registration from Registrar Corp, buyers can see that an internationally well-known FDA compliance authority has affirmed your FDA registration to be valid as of a certain date. You can display the certificate in your food facility or store a digital copy that you can send to customers upon request.

Registration Monitoring Through ComplyHub

Another way to share your registration status is through Registrar Corp’s ComplyHub. Importers and buyers that use the Monitor can request confirmation of a facility’s registration through the Monitor. When a customer requests confirmation of your registration, the Monitor will send you a request for your FDA registration number, the corresponding PIN, and your authorization to share the status of your registration with a specified company. Once your information is received, the Monitor will confirm your registration’s validity and continuously monitor your registration status so that buyers are notified of any changes in your status.

Proof of a facility’s FDA registration helps instill confidence in buyers that they will not endure timely and costly detentions due to a supplier’s invalid registration status. You also benefit by standing out as a trustworthy option to buyers who are considering multiple suppliers.