INFORMATION FOR PROCESSING PLANTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROCESSING PLANTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES 

   Products exported from foreign countries to the U.S. for marketing in the U.S., including both acidified and low-acid canned foods, are subject to inspection at the time of entry into the United States.  Shipments which do not comply with U.S. laws and regulations WILL BE DETAINED AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. THESE PRODUCTS MUST BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. LAWS AND REGULATIONS, DESTROYED, OR RE-EXPORTED.

   REASONS FOR PRODUCT DETENTION

   Low-acid canned foods or acidified foods may be detained at the port of entry for a variety of reasons, including the following:

   • Establishment is not registered
   • Establishment is registered but has not filed process information for the product with the FDA
   • Documentation provided with entry does not provide sufficient information to allow identification of the Food Canning Establishment (FCE) or the product.

   In addition to LACF and acidified regulations (21 CFR 108.35, 108.25, 113, and 114), all other requirements of FDA's laws and regulations must be met before the products will be allowed entry into the United States. These include sanitation requirements during processing and storage, labeling, etc.

   HOW TO AVOID DELAYS

   Processors and exporters of low-acid or acidified foods to the U.S. can avoid delay in clearing such products for entry into the United States by ensuring that invoices, manifests, and other shipping documents include the following information:

   • Name and address of the processing establishment as registered with the FDA
   • Food Canning Establishment (FCE) number of the registered establishment
   • Submission Identifier(s) (SID) of process filing form(s) listing process(es) filed with FDA for this product
   • Product name of low-acid canned food or acidified food product, form or style, and packing medium (as printed on the container label and also as listed on the filing form). For example:
     • Tuna (chunk style) in oil
     • Sardines in tomato sauce
     • Artichoke hearts (quartered) in brine
     • Mushrooms (sliced) in butter sauce

     Both the English and non-English name (when applicable) should be listed as it appears on the label. For example:

     • Green kidney beans (flageolets) in brine
     • Broad beans (papdi) in brine
   • Container type.
   • Container dimensions for each type or size container, in inches and sixteenths of an inch. See chart in Appendix A for converting from Metric units (mm) to English units (inches and sixteenths).