FDA Reminder: FSVP Importers Require DUNS Number as of July 24

Trade Update • June 27, 2022

he Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a 30-day warning/reminder to FSVP importers that they will require a DUNS Number as of July 24, 2022.

The FDA will officially end its temporary policy of allowing the identity code “UNK” (unknown), in lieu of a 9-digit DUNS number for Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Food Importers in the Entity Number field on entry forms.

The FSVP regulation requires that for each line of human and/or animal food offered for entry into the U.S., FSVP importers must ensure that their name, email address, and a UFI recognized as acceptable by the FDA (currently, the DUNS number), are provided electronically when filing entry with CBP. When the change is in effect, electronic entry line submissions for foods subject to the FSVP regulation containing “UNK” in the Entity Number field will be rejected by CBP’s electronic import system.

An FSVP importer may obtain a DUNS number from D&B free of charge. It may take approximately 30 business days or longer to receive a DUNS number from D&B after submitting a request. DUNS numbers can be requested from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) through its Import Safety Lookup Portal. You may also use the Portal to look-up a DUNS number or request an update to a current DUNS number.

For questions about import entry data requirements, import/product applicability and impact, please contact us.