If you are searching for an FSVP agent because a U.S. buyer asked for “FSVP documents,” your shipment encountered an FSVP-related issue, or a prospective customer wants FSVP information before placing an order, REGISTRO-FDA.US can review your situation.
We do not start by selling you a generic package. We first look at the food, the companies involved, and the specific request or problem. Then we explain where you stand and send you a tailored proposal with the scope and cost for your case.
Quick answer
REGISTRO-FDA.US provides FSVP compliance help for foreign food suppliers that need to respond to a U.S. buyer, understand an FSVP-related entry issue, or prepare for a new export relationship. We review your situation, determine what needs attention, and provide a tailored quote before work begins.
Did your U.S. buyer ask for “FSVP documents”?
This is one of the most common reasons foreign suppliers contact us.
You may receive a message saying:
“Please send your FSVP.”
“We need your FSVP documents before approving you.”
“Our compliance team needs information for FSVP.”
The request can be confusing because a foreign supplier does not simply “have an FSVP” in the same way it may have company records or an FDA food facility registration.
FSVP places the applicable verification responsibility on the FSVP Importer in the United States. FDA also explains that, depending on the verification activities involved, the importer may request information from its foreign supplier, including relevant food safety records or audit information.
That means your buyer may legitimately need information from you, even though the importer is the party responsible for the FSVP program.
Our role is to review what the buyer is actually requesting, determine how it relates to your company, and tell you what needs attention.
We do not send you a generic document checklist and leave you to figure it out.
Did your shipment run into FSVP-related trouble at entry?
If a shipment is already facing an FSVP-related issue, the first step is understanding the actual problem.
It may involve how the FSVP Importer was identified, whether the responsible party was properly established, the information available to support compliance, or another issue connected with the transaction.
FDA guidance states that food can be refused admission when required FSVP Importer identification is not provided.
That does not mean every entry problem has the same cause or the same solution.
REGISTRO-FDA.US reviews the situation before recommending a service. We want to understand what happened, which companies are involved, and what needs to be addressed.
If another party has described the problem simply as “FSVP,” you do not need to diagnose it yourself before contacting us.
Is a prospective buyer asking about FSVP before signing the deal?
This situation often appears before a foreign supplier receives its first order.
A buyer may like the product, pricing, and commercial terms, but then ask:
“Who is handling FSVP?”
“Are you prepared for our supplier verification?”
“What documents can you provide for FSVP?”
For the foreign supplier, this is not just a regulatory conversation. It can become a sales issue.
The U.S. importer may need information about your company and food before it is comfortable proceeding. If you cannot explain your position or provide what is relevant to the importer’s review, the commercial relationship can stall.
REGISTRO-FDA.US helps you clarify the situation before you make unsupported promises to the buyer.
We review the request, identify the regulatory roles, and determine what type of support makes sense for your case.
What is FSVP?
FSVP stands for Foreign Supplier Verification Programs. It is an FDA rule under FSMA requiring covered importers to perform risk-based activities to verify that imported foods and foreign suppliers meet applicable U.S. food safety requirements.
In general, the FSVP Importer is the U.S. owner or consignee of the food at entry. If there is no U.S. owner or consignee, the rule provides for a qualifying U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee to serve in that role under the applicable conditions.
For a complete explanation:
See also: what is FSVP.
This page focuses on a different question: what should you do when FSVP is already affecting your sale, shipment, or relationship with a U.S. buyer?
Our answer is to let us review the specific case and quote the appropriate work.
“FSVP agent” is not the same as FSVP Importer
Foreign suppliers often search for an “FSVP agent,” “FSVP consultant,” or “FSVP service” because they need professional assistance.
However, FSVP Importer is a specific regulatory role.
FDA generally defines the FSVP Importer as the U.S. owner or consignee of the food, or the qualifying U.S. representative described by the rule when no U.S. owner or consignee exists.
For that reason, REGISTRO-FDA.US does not automatically tell every foreign supplier that we will act as its FSVP Importer.
We first review the commercial structure.
Who is selling the product?
Who is buying it?
Who owns or has agreed to purchase the food at entry?
What exactly did the buyer request?
What happened if there is already an import problem?
Only after understanding the case do we recommend a service and prepare the quote.
Why FSVP affects you even when the importer is responsible
The importer carries the applicable FSVP responsibility, but the foreign supplier remains an important part of the verification process.
FDA’s FSVP framework includes areas such as hazard analysis, evaluation of the food and supplier, supplier verification, corrective actions, recordkeeping, and importer identification.
Your U.S. customer may therefore need information from your company to support its evaluation.
This is where foreign suppliers sometimes lose momentum.
The buyer asks for information.
The supplier assumes that its FDA registration is enough.
The buyer says it is not.
The supplier sends unrelated documents.
The buyer still cannot complete its review.
The commercial discussion stops.
Our FSVP compliance help is designed to avoid that confusion by first determining what the actual request means in the context of your food and transaction.
How we work your FSVP case
Our process is centered on evaluation first and a defined proposal second.
1. You tell us what is happening
You explain what food you sell, where your company is located, who the U.S. buyer is, and why FSVP has become an issue.
If the buyer sent you a request, or if a shipment encountered a problem described as FSVP-related, we use that information to understand the situation.
You do not need to know the regulatory answer before contacting us.
2. We assess what applies and what appears to be missing
REGISTRO-FDA.US reviews the roles of the companies involved and the nature of the FSVP question.
We determine whether the matter appears to involve information needed from the foreign supplier, the FSVP Importer relationship, another compliance issue, or a combination of requirements.
We also separate FSVP from other FDA obligations that are frequently confused with it.
See also: FDA facility registration.
See also: U.S. Agent service.
3. We send you a clear proposal
Once we understand the situation, we define the service we can provide and send you a tailored proposal.
The proposal identifies the scope and cost for your specific case.
We do not publish one universal FSVP price because a supplier answering a prospective buyer’s request may need a different type of assistance from a company already dealing with an entry problem.
We evaluate first, then quote.
Why foreign suppliers choose REGISTRO-FDA.US
Foreign exporters usually contact us because they want the regulatory issue translated into a clear business decision.
They do not want another unexplained list of requirements.
Miami-based support
REGISTRO-FDA.US has a presence in Miami, Florida, serving companies that need help navigating FDA compliance matters related to the U.S. market.
For foreign suppliers, that means working with a team located in the United States while still receiving direct support oriented toward international exporters.
English and Spanish
We communicate in English and Spanish.
This is especially useful when your manufacturing or export team operates in Spanish but your buyer, broker, or U.S. counterpart communicates in English.
We can review the issue without forcing your company to interpret regulatory terminology through a language barrier.
FDA compliance experience with exporters
Our work focuses on helping companies understand FDA-related requirements connected with bringing products into the United States.
That perspective is important because an FSVP question often appears alongside other issues.
Your buyer may mention FSVP, FDA registration, U.S. Agent information, or several requirements in the same conversation.
We separate those issues so the appropriate service can be considered for each one.
Direct contact
You can explain what is happening directly to our team.
We review the case before defining the work.
That is particularly valuable when you only know that your buyer said “FSVP” but cannot tell whether the request concerns supplier information, importer responsibilities, or another compliance matter.
If that describes your situation:
FSVP is different from FDA facility registration and U.S. Agent service
Foreign suppliers often encounter these requirements at approximately the same stage of entering the U.S. market, but they serve different purposes.
FDA facility registration concerns the foreign food facility when the applicable registration requirement applies.
See also: FDA facility registration.
A U.S. Agent serves as the U.S. contact for a foreign food facility under the applicable registration framework.
See also: U.S. Agent service.
FSVP, by contrast, places applicable verification duties on the FSVP Importer.
One does not automatically replace the others.
If your buyer is mixing these requirements together, REGISTRO-FDA.US can review the situation and separate what belongs to the supplier, what belongs to the importer, and what service should be considered.
Do not lose a U.S. sale because nobody clarified the FSVP question
If a buyer is asking for FSVP information, the goal is not to send the largest possible collection of documents.
The goal is to understand what the buyer needs and what is relevant to your specific product and transaction.
If your shipment has already encountered a problem, the same principle applies: understand the issue before assuming the solution.
REGISTRO-FDA.US reviews your situation, explains where you stand, and prepares a tailored proposal for the assistance we can provide.
Tell us what you export, where you are located, who the U.S. buyer is, and what FSVP question or problem brought you here.
We will review the case and quote the appropriate service.
Private FDA compliance consulting firm. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Educational information only; not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FSVP in one sentence?
FSVP is an FDA rule under FSMA requiring covered FSVP Importers to perform risk-based activities to verify foreign suppliers and imported foods against applicable U.S. food safety requirements. The importer carries the applicable FSVP responsibility, while foreign suppliers may need to provide information that supports the importer’s evaluation.
Who is responsible for FSVP compliance?
The FSVP Importer is the responsible party when the rule applies. In general, this is the U.S. owner or consignee of the food at entry. When there is no U.S. owner or consignee, the rule provides for a qualifying U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee under the applicable conditions.
Why is my importer asking me for FSVP information if the importer is responsible?
Because the importer may need information from the foreign supplier to perform its verification activities. FDA specifically notes that importers may request relevant food safety records or audit information from their foreign suppliers. We can review your buyer’s request and determine what needs attention from your side.
What do you need from me to prepare an FSVP quote?
Very little to start. Tell us what food you export, your country, who the U.S. buyer is, and what FSVP request or problem you are dealing with. If you received a message or other information from your buyer concerning FSVP, that context can also help us evaluate the situation and prepare the appropriate proposal.
How much does FSVP service cost?
It depends on your case. A supplier responding to a buyer before the first sale may require a different scope from a company dealing with an FSVP-related import issue. That is why REGISTRO-FDA.US reviews your situation first and provides a quote free of charge with the proposed scope and cost.
Is FSVP the same as FDA registration or a U.S. Agent?
No. They are different requirements and roles. FDA facility registration concerns the foreign food facility when applicable, while a U.S. Agent provides a U.S. contact for that foreign facility. FSVP places applicable verification responsibilities on the FSVP Importer. U.S. Agent service
What can happen if an FSVP issue is ignored?
The commercial consequence can be a delayed or lost sale, and regulatory problems can also affect an import transaction. FDA guidance states that food may be refused admission when required FSVP Importer identification is not provided. The appropriate response depends on the actual issue, which is why we review the case before recommending a service.
How do I get started with REGISTRO-FDA.US?
Tell us what product you export, which country your company is in, who your U.S. buyer is, and what happened. You do not need to determine the FSVP solution yourself. We review the circumstances, identify what needs attention, and send you a tailored proposal so you can decide how to move forward.