Food producers across the globe are being urged to register as soon as possible with the US Food and Drug Administration in order to comply with the imminent 'Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act' of 2002.
The legislation aims to provide the FDA with new authority to protect the US food supply against terrorist acts and other public health threats. It allows the FDA wider inspection powers to ensure the safety of imported food products before they enter the US. More than 400,000 commercial operations worldwide are estimated to be affected by the new rules.
Under the terms of the Act, owners, operators or agents in-charge of a domestic or foreign facility must submit a registration to the FDA. In it they must record the trading name of the business, the name and address of each of its facilities, the business and food categories the facility handles and, for overseas operations, details of the US agent. The FDA will then provide confirmation and an identification number to each registered business.
Raw food producers appear to be exempt from the provisions if their products are labelled and packed in another country. The packaging enterprise must register in that case. But any labelling and packaging before shipment to a third party destination for trans-shipping to the USA will require registration.
The Act requires companies to register or submit applications before the cut-off date of 12 December 2003. After that date an unregistered company whose products are found in US stores will face civil or criminal charges.
The FDA does not charge for registration and full details are on the FDA website where companies can register electronically.