<p>By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, Chief Food and Product Safety Officer and Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute and Stephanie Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Food Marketing Institute<br /> <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/food-facility-registration.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Food Facility Registration" title="Food Facility Registration" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/">biennial registration</a> of all domestic and foreign food facilities engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding food for consumption in the United States (originally established under the Bioterrorism Act). Re-registration occurs every even numbered year from October 1 through December 31. New facilities must also register with the FDA. Farms and retail operations, such as grocery stores, do not have to register, while retailer-owned distribution centers must register as “holding” facilities, and retailer-owned commissaries and central kitchens that are not part of a retail location must also register.</p> <p>Please keep in mind that updating your registration is a different function than renewing your registration. If your food facility registration is not renewed by 11:59 PM on December 31st, the registration will expire and be removed. The FDA has the authority to suspend the registration of a food facility (which they have done in extenuating circumstances). The FSMA statute and regulations also state that the failure to register a food facility is a prohibited act.</p> <p>Registration is simple. Before December 31, go to the <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/">FDA registration site</a> and register or re-register your manufacturing, processing, packing or holding facilities (Reminder: If you only operate retail stores, you do not need to register stores). The 2016 FDA Food Facility Registration is available through <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/">FDA’s website</a><strong>.</strong></p> <p>FDA has a number of guidance documents available to provide assistance to registrants with the registration process, including information on biennial registration renewal.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm331959.htm">Draft Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Facility Registration (Seventh Edition)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm324778.htm">The Guidance for Industry: Necessity of the Use of Food Product Categories in Food Facility Registrations and Updates to Food Product Categories (2016 Edition)</a> </li> <li><a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/FoodDefense/ucm331957.htm">The Guidance for Industry: What You Need to Know About the Registration of Food Facilities – Small Entity Compliance Guide</a></li> </ul> <p>Do you have questions? Feel free to contact <a href="mailto:
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