New Advance Notification Guidelines for Imported Foods Released by the United States

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced Announcement No. 2023-22649 on October 12, 2023, as documented in the U.S. Federal Register. This announcement presents the fourth edition of the Imported Food Pre-Notification Guidelines. The key points covered in the new edition include:

1. The guideline now specifies that even if the FDA has acknowledged the equivalence of the regulatory system in the country of origin for imported food, prior notification is still a requirement when food from that country is brought into the United States.

   
   

2. In instances where the FDA decides that the advance-notified imported food will face entry refusal or detention for inspection, importers have the option to request re-evaluation by the FDA within five natural days of receiving the decision.

   
   

This announcement is slated for official publication in the Federal Register on October 13, 2023, at which point it will become effective.