Nov 17, 2016

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, Chief Food and Product Safety Officer and Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute and Stephanie Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Food Marketing Institute
Food Facility Registration

Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires biennial registration of all domestic and foreign food facilities engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding food for consumption in the United States (originally established under the Bioterrorism Act). Re-registration occurs every even numbered year from October 1 through December 31. New facilities must also register with the FDA. Farms and retail operations, such as grocery stores, do not have to register, while retailer-owned distribution centers must register as “holding” facilities, and retailer-owned commissaries and central kitchens that are not part of a retail location must also register.

Please keep in mind that updating your registration is a different function than renewing your registration. If your food facility registration is not renewed by 11:59 PM on December 31st, the registration will expire and be removed. The FDA has the authority to suspend the registration of a food facility (which they have done in extenuating circumstances). The FSMA statute and regulations also state that the failure to register a food facility is a prohibited act.

Registration is simple. Before December 31, go to the FDA registration site and register or re-register your manufacturing, processing, packing or holding facilities (Reminder: If you only operate retail stores, you do not need to register stores). The 2016 FDA Food Facility Registration is available through FDA’s website.

FDA has a number of guidance documents available to provide assistance to registrants with the registration process, including information on biennial registration renewal.

Do you have questions? Feel free to contact Hilary Thesmar or Stephanie Barnes.