The Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a new automated system for companies exporting food from the U.S. to file electronically for certificates of free sale. Such certificates are often requested by international customers or governments to verify that the products being exported meet certain standards.
The FDA Unified Registration and Listing Systems Certificate Application Process allows exporters of conventional foods, including seafood, to apply online for a CFS, reducing the amount of time required for the FDA to process requests and issue certificates. Exporters who create a CAP account will be able to apply for new certificates, modify existing applications and check the status of pending applications. To create an account, companies will need to enter the food facility registration number and passcode they received when they registered under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
The FDA notes that while companies will now be able to apply for a CFS electronically they can still request certificates by mail. In addition, even if the application is made electronically, at this time certificates are available only as hard copies that are mailed to the applicant.
The FDA Unified Registration and Listing Systems Certificate Application Process allows exporters of conventional foods, including seafood, to apply online for a CFS, reducing the amount of time required for the FDA to process requests and issue certificates. Exporters who create a CAP account will be able to apply for new certificates, modify existing applications and check the status of pending applications. To create an account, companies will need to enter the food facility registration number and passcode they received when they registered under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
The FDA notes that while companies will now be able to apply for a CFS electronically they can still request certificates by mail. In addition, even if the application is made electronically, at this time certificates are available only as hard copies that are mailed to the applicant.
