Prior Notice of Imported Foods

The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act) directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as the food regulatory agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, to take additional steps to protect the public from a threatened or actual terrorist attack on the U.S. food supply and other food-related emergencies.

To carry out certain provisions of the Bioterrorism Act, FDA has established new regulations requiring that:

• Food facilities are registered with FDA, and
• FDA be given advance notice on shipments of imported food.

The Act requires that FDA receive prior notice before food is imported or offered for import into the United States. Advance notice of import shipments allows FDA, with the support of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to target import inspections more effectively and help protect that nation's food supply against terrorist acts and other public health emergencies.

Instructions

• Quick Start Guide (also available in Spanish)
• Step by Step Web System Instructions
• PNSI "Wizards" Step by Step Instructions
• Product Code Builder Tutorial
• Find, Copy and Cancel Web Entries and Prior Notices
• Time Saving Tips from the FDA Prior Notice Center for PNSI
• New Features in PNSI
• HTS Codes