Imports/Exports

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On September 13, at the third annual executive meeting of the Food Safety Partnership (FSP) between the U.S. and Mexico, federal regulatory agencies from both countries reported continued progress in strengthening food safety.

The UK Government has delayed the introduction of new food import controls under the Border Target Operating Model (TOM) to the end of January 2024, postponing the requirement for the inspection and certification of medium- and high-risk animal products and produce entering the country.

On August 24, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed a Regulatory Partnership Arrangement (RPA) with Ecuador’s Vice Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries (VMAF) to strengthen the food safety of Ecuadorian shrimp intended for sale in the U.S. market.

A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA’s ERS) has revealed the Mexican horticultural sector’s response to and challenges with the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FDA’s FSMA) since its implementation in 2011.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a new Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) resource to help importers understand eligibility criteria and answer questions prior to submitting an application, as well as to outline the steps for foreign supplier audits under the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program (TPP).

Leveraging digital supply chain technologies—like blockchain, AI, and other solutions—can help importers comply with FDA's Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) more efficiently and effectively, while also improving supply chain transparency and reducing the risk of food safety incidents.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the fiscal year (FY) 2024 user fee rates for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) and the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program (TPP). Both are programs under FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office recently released a guidance on the standards and regulatory requirements that businesses need to meet in order to import and sell goods, including foodstuffs, in the UK.

The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, has published a plan that establishes the basis for risk-based checks across EU and non-EU trade. The draft Border Target Operating Model sets forth proposals for a new border surveillance and control system to provide protection from security and biosecurity threats, including those posed by unsafe food imports.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has revised a guidance document regarding Safe Food for Canadians licensing requirements for manufacturers and importers of infant formula and human milk fortifier.