What Is FSVP? A Guide for Food Importers on FDA Compliance

Are You Importing Food into the U.S.? Here’s What You Need to Know About FSVP

If you’re importing food into the United States, there’s one critical program you must be aware of: the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP). Whether you’re new to food importing or have years of experience, compliance with FSVP is not optional—it’s a legal requirement enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Below, we break down what FSVP is, who manages it, and how to stay prepared for a future FDA audit.

What Is the FSVP?
The FSVP is your documented process that proves the food, ingredients, and suppliers you use meet U.S. safety standards. It shows the FDA that the products you’re importing are:
Safe for consumption
Produced in facilities that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and proper safety controls

Who Manages the FSVP?
You have two choices:

Manage it internally: You or your team set up and maintain the FSVP on your own.
Hire a consultant: You can work with an FDA compliance expert to manage your FSVP. (We can recommend experts if needed.)
Regardless of who manages it, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring it meets all FDA requirements.

When Will the FDA Review My FSVP?
The FDA typically doesn’t reach out to Importers of Record (IORs) immediately—it could take a year or more. But every importer will be audited eventually, and your FSVP must be ready for review at any time.

What Should Be Included in an FSVP?
Your documentation should clearly explain:

How you source your ingredients
Where and how your products are manufactured and packaged
How items are stored and shipped prior to export
This helps the FDA verify that your supply chain is compliant and transparent.

How Should You Store Your FSVP?
You can use whichever method works best for your team:

Hard copy: A binder with printed documents
Electronic: Files stored in your computer system

No matter the format, your documentation must be complete, organized, and easily accessible if the FDA requests to review it.

Learn More
Here are two helpful FDA resources to deepen your understanding:

What Do Importers Need to Know About FSVP?
FDA List of Records Required Under FSVP