QAP maintenance and updates

FDA’s
Voluntary Qualified Importer
Program
Guidance for Industry
Additional copies are available from:
Office of Enforcement and Import Operations
Office of Regulatory Affairs
Office of Global Regulatory Operations and Policy
Food and Drug Administration
12420 Parklawn Drive
Rockville, MD 20857
(Tel) 301-796-0356
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-rules-guidanceindustry
You may submit either electronic or written comments regarding this guidance at any
time. Submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written
comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments
should be identified with the docket number listed in the notice of availability that
publishes in the Federal Register.
For questions regarding this document, contact Office of Enforcement and Import
Operations (ELEM-3108), Office of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug Administration,
at 301-796-0356.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Office of Regulatory Affairs
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Center for Veterinary Medicine
July 2023
OMB Control No. 0910-0840
Current expiration date available at
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAOMBHistory?ombControlNumber=0910-0840
See additional PRA statement in Section IV of this guidance

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

Table of Contents
I. Introduction ................................................................................................ 3
II. Background ................................................................................................ 4
III. Questions and Answers............................................................................. 4
A. Voluntary Qualified Importer Program Benefits ................................... 5
B. Importer .................................................................................................. 7
C. Eligibility ................................................................................................ 8
D. Foreign Supplier Facility Certification................................................. 10
E. VQIP Application ................................................................................. 12
F. VQIP Quality Assurance Program ........................................................ 14
G. Application Period and VQIP Fiscal Year ........................................... 18
H. FDA VQIP Application Review........................................................... 19
I. VQIP Application Amendments ............................................................ 21
J. VQIP User Fees ..................................................................................... 22
K. Revocation of VQIP Participation ........................................................ 23
L. Reinstatement of VQIP Participation ................................................... 25
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 ......................................................... 26
V. Document History ................................................................................... 28

2

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

FDA’s
Voluntary Qualified Importer Program
Guidance for Industry
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or
Agency) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA
or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the
applicable statutes and regulations. To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff
responsible for this guidance listed on the title page.

I. Introduction
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (Pub. L. 111-353) enables the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) to better protect public health by helping
to ensure the safety and security of the food supply. It enables FDA to focus more on
preventing food safety problems rather than relying primarily on reacting to problems
after they occur. FSMA recognizes the important role industry plays in ensuring the
safety of the food supply, including the adoption of modern systems of preventive
controls in food production. Under FSMA, those that import food have a responsibility
to ensure that their suppliers produce food that meets U.S. safety standards.
FSMA also requires FDA to establish a voluntary, fee-based program for the expedited
review and importation of foods from importers who achieve and maintain a high level of
control over the safety and security of their supply chains. This control includes
importation of food from facilities that have been certified in accordance with FDA’s
program for Accreditation of Third-Party Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety
Audits and to Issue Certifications (see FDA’s third-party certification regulations at 21
CFR part 1, subpart M), as well as other measures that support a high level of confidence
in the safety and security of the food they import. Expedited entry incentivizes importers
to adopt a robust system of supply chain management and further benefits public health
by allowing FDA to focus its resources on food entries that pose a higher risk to public
health.
This guidance document describes FDA’s policy regarding participation in FDA’s
Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) by importers of food for humans or
animals. This document provides guidance on:
• The benefits VQIP importers can expect to receive;
• The eligibility criteria for VQIP participation;
• Instructions for completing a VQIP application;
• Conditions that may result in revocation of participation in VQIP; and
• Criteria for VQIP reinstatement following revocation.

3

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
This guidance document is presented in question and answer format. This guidance
document may be modified (in accordance with FDA’s good guidance practice regulation
(21 CFR 10.115)) as VQIP is implemented and evaluated. FDA’s guidance documents,
including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead,
guidance describes the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only
as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The
use of the word should in Agency guidance means that something is suggested or
recommended, but not required. This guidance represents FDA’s current thinking
regarding what will be considered for participation in VQIP and how VQIP will expedite
entry of imports. However, we will consider alternative approaches and, as further
discussed in this document, we retain our full authority with regard to import sampling
and entry decisions.
The pronouns “I,” “me,” “you,” and “your” are used in this guidance to refer to the
importer who may want to participate in VQIP. “Agency” and the pronouns “we” and
“our” are used to refer to FDA. The term “food” has the meaning given in section 201(f)
of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 321(f)), except
that, for the purposes of VQIP, food does not include pesticides as defined in 7 U.S.C.
136(u).

II. Background
FSMA amended the FD&C Act by adding new section 806, Voluntary Qualified
Importer Program (21 U.S.C. 384b). Section 806(a)(1) requires FDA to establish the
following:
• A program for the expedited review and importation of food offered for
importation by importers who voluntarily agree to participate in VQIP, and
• A process, consistent with section 808 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 384d), for the
issuance of a facility certification to accompany a food offered for importation by
importers participating in VQIP.
Section 806(a)(2) of the FD&C Act requires FDA to issue a guidance document related to
participation in, revocation of such participation in, reinstatement in, and compliance
with VQIP. Section 806(d) states that in reviewing and making determinations on VQIP
applications, FDA must consider the risk of the food to be imported based on factors such
as the compliance history of the foreign supplier and the food safety practices of the
importer.
In accordance with section 806(a)(2) of the FD&C Act, FDA is issuing this guidance to
provide information on the process for expedited review and importation of food under
VQIP, the issuance of facility certifications required to accompany food imported under
VQIP, the submission and review of VQIP applications (taking into account the factors
set forth in section 806(d)), and other matters related to participation in, and compliance
with, VQIP.

III. Questions and Answers
4

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

A. Voluntary Qualified Importer Program Benefits
A.1 What are the benefits of VQIP participation?
Importers participating in VQIP will receive the following benefits:
• FDA will expedite entry into the United States for all foods included in an
approved VQIP application (VQIP foods). FDA will set screening in its
Predictive Risk-based Evaluation for Dynamic Import Compliance Targeting
(PREDICT) import screening system to recognize shipments of food which are
the subject of an approved VQIP application to expedite the entry of such food.
The system is designed to recognize the information and release the shipment
immediately after the receipt of entry information, unless examination and
sampling are necessary for public health reasons. (See Question A.5.)
• FDA will limit examination and/or sampling of VQIP food entries to “for cause”
situations (i.e., when the food is or may be associated with a risk to the public
health), to obtain statistically necessary risk-based microbiological samples, and
to audit VQIP. (See Question A.5.)
• In the examination and/or sampling circumstances identified in the previous
bullet, FDA will attempt, to the extent possible, to examine an entry and collect
samples at the VQIP food destination or other location preferred by the VQIP
importer. If exportation is warranted, FDA will assist in fulfilling an importer’s
request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to export from the port
preferred by the importer.
• FDA will expedite its laboratory analysis of “for cause” or audit samples of VQIP
entries, to the extent possible in accordance with public health priorities.
• FDA will maintain a VQIP Importers Help Desk dedicated to responding to
questions and resolving issues raised by VQIP importers about VQIP food and
this guidance document. The VQIP Importers Help Desk will be available for
assistance with completing the VQIP application and facilitating review of VQIP
food that does not receive an immediate release.
• FDA will post a publicly available list of approved VQIP importers on FDA’s
VQIP Web page at https://www.fda.gov/food/importing-food-products-unitedstates/voluntary-qualified-importer-program-vqip. VQIP importers may choose
not to be listed on the VQIP importers list. A VQIP importer’s decision to opt out
of being listed on the publicly available list of approved VQIP importers will not
have any effect on its participation.
The Agency may suspend any or all of these benefits as necessary to protect public health
or in the case of an unforeseen emergency.

A.2 When will I receive the VQIP benefits?

5

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
VQIP benefits will begin October 1 following your acceptance into the program and will
last through September 30 of the following year (VQIP fiscal year), except as noted in
Question H.4. (See Section E and Section G for VQIP application information.)
A.3 What information should be submitted at entry to identify a VQIP food?
In addition to the entry data elements you normally transmit during the import process,
you should provide the VQIP Affirmation of Compliance (AofC) code and your VQIP
application number to identify the entry as a VQIP food. (See Question H.9 and VQIP
Portal User Guide https://www.fda.gov/media/113346/download.) For each VQIP food
entry, you should ensure the import entry information matches the information in your
VQIP application for the food.
A.4 Will FDA expedite entry of a VQIP food that is part of a mixed entry (i.e., the entry
includes VQIP food and food that is not covered by my VQIP)?
FDA will expedite only the line entry associated with the VQIP food. A nonparticipating food will be subject to normal FDA line entry review procedures, including
routine examination and sampling, when applicable. Although FDA will attempt, to the
extent possible, to expedite the entry of the VQIP food, entry delays may occur for a
VQIP food that cannot be readily separated from a non-VQIP food to allow for FDA
examination or sampling of the non-VQIP food. For this reason, it may be beneficial to
ensure that VQIP foods can be easily segregated from non-VQIP foods and moved into
commerce.
A.5 Under what circumstances will FDA examine or sample a VQIP food?
A VQIP food may be subject to “for cause” examination when we determine the food is
or may be associated with a risk to public health. For example, during an investigation of
an outbreak or illness associated with the type of food or with a foreign supplier covered
by your approved VQIP application, FDA may examine and sample the VQIP food, even
if there is no specific information implicating the VQIP food in the outbreak or illness.
VQIP food may, at times, also be subject to microbiological sampling related to specific
risk-based surveillance assignments. However, surveillance sampling of a VQIP food
will be a low priority and FDA may exclude VQIP food from such sampling altogether if
we can obtain adequate statistically-based, non-biased, non-VQIP food samples. If
surveillance sampling of a VQIP food is necessary, FDA will collect a domestic-import
sample (i.e., collect the sample after the food has been released from import status and
entered into domestic commerce). FDA may also periodically conduct audit
examinations, which may include sampling and a review of the labeling as it relates to the
risk of the food, to verify your compliance with VQIP. A sample collected under this
type of audit examination will also be collected as a domestic-import sample. Thus,
surveillance sample collection will not delay entry of the VQIP food. FDA laboratories
will schedule sample analyses to ensure that a VQIP food sample receives priority over
non-VQIP food samples collected during the investigation, to the extent possible in
accordance with public health priorities. The FDA VQIP Importers Help Desk will be

6

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
available for assistance regarding the status of VQIP foods undergoing review or analysis
to minimize delays.
A.6 Will FDA work with CBP to facilitate resolution of entry-related matters for VQIP
foods under CBP’s control?
FDA will work with CBP to provide expedited entry for VQIP foods. If you encounter
an entry delay by CBP and you believe FDA can help to facilitate a resolution with CBP,
you may contact the FDA VQIP Importers Help Desk for assistance. (See Question A.1.)

B. Importer
B.1 Who can participate in VQIP?
You must be a food importer to participate in VQIP. For the purposes of VQIP, the
importer is defined as the person that brings food, or causes food to be brought, from a
foreign country into the customs territory of the United States (section 806(g) of the
FD&C Act). A VQIP importer can be located outside the United States. Persons who
may be a VQIP importer include the manufacturer, owner, consignee, and importer of
record of a food, provided that the importer can meet all the criteria for participation
described in this guidance.
B.2 Should I be the importer of record to be a VQIP importer?
As a VQIP importer you may also be, but need not be, the CBP importer of record. CBP
defines the importer of record for a food as the person or firm responsible for making
entry and payment of import duties, fees, and taxes for the food. Under 19 U.S.C.
1484(a)(2)(B), the importer of record can be the owner or purchaser of the food or, when
designated by the owner, purchaser, or consignee, a broker licensed by CBP.
B.3 Is the VQIP importer the same as an importer under other FDA regulations
applicable to importers of food?
The VQIP importer may be, but is not necessarily, the same as an importer as defined in
the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) regulations or the juice and seafood
hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) regulations. For the purposes of this
guidance, the FSVP or HACCP importer means the importer who, for a specific food, is
subject to the importer requirements in FDA’s FSVP regulation, (21 CFR part 1, subpart
L) or the requirements applicable to importers in the juice or seafood HACCP regulations
(21 CFR 120.14 and 123.12, respectively). Under both the FSVP and the HACCP
importer regulations, the importer is the U.S. owner or consignee at the time of entry into
the United States or the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee at
the time of entry into the United States (21 CFR 1.500 (FSVP)); 21 CFR 120.3(h) (juice
HACCP); and 21 CFR 123.3(g) (seafood HACCP)). An FSVP or HACCP importer must
be located in the United States. When the FSVP or HACCP importer for a food is a U.S.
agent or representative for the foreign owner or consignee, the U.S. agent or

7

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
representative is responsible for meeting the FSVP or HACCP requirements with respect
to that food.
However, as stated in Question B.1, a VQIP importer does not have to be located in the
United States. If you are a VQIP importer that is located in the United States, you may
also be the FSVP or HACCP importer. If you are a VQIP importer who is also the FSVP
or HACCP importer for the food, you should meet the requirements of the applicable
FSVP or HACCP regulations. Otherwise, you should ensure that the applicable
requirements are met by the FSVP or HACCP importer. (See Question C.1, number 6.)

C. Eligibility
C.1 What are the eligibility criteria for participation in VQIP?
To be eligible to participate in VQIP, you should meet all of the following criteria, some
of which are discussed in more detail in questions cross-referenced in a particular
criterion:
1. You have at least a 3-year history of importing food into the United States. Your
import history may be based on the shared importation history of previous or
parent companies, such as those that have been involved in a merger. Your import
history is based on importation of all foods, including food that may not be
covered under VQIP.
2. You have a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number. (See Questions E.3 and E.4.)
3. You use paperless filers/brokers who received acceptable results during their last
FDA Filer Evaluation. (See Question E.10.) The filer/broker is the person
responsible for (1) submitting entry and entry summary data on the food into the
Automated Commercial System (ACS) or Automated Commercial Environment
(ACE) and (2) submitting import documents into the International Trade
Auxiliary Communication System (ITACS) or through CBP’s Document Imaging
System (DIS).
4. No food you import, including a food you do not intend to include under VQIP, is
subject to detention without physical examination under an Import Alert or a
Class 1 recall at the time you submit your application.
5. Neither you nor the non-applicant entities associated with a VQIP food are subject
to an ongoing FDA administrative or judicial action (e.g., Import Alert,
injunction, debarment), or have a history of significant non-compliances relating
to food safety (e.g., an “Official Action Indicated” (OAI) FDA inspection
classification with no documentation of appropriate corrective actions; one or
more voluntary Class 1 recalls relating to food safety). “Non-applicant entities”
are those entities associated with a VQIP food that conduct activities throughout
the supply chain necessary for ensuring that the eligibility requirements of VQIP
are met. Non-applicant entities associated with a VQIP food include, but are not
limited to, the FSVP or HACCP importer of the food (if other than you), the
foreign supplier of the food, and the filer/broker.

8

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
6. If you are the FSVP or HACCP importer for a VQIP food, you are in compliance
with the supplier verification and other importer responsibilities under the
applicable FSVP, juice HACCP, or seafood HACCP regulations. If you are not
the FSVP or HACCP importer for a VQIP food, you identify the FSVP or
HACCP importer for the food and ensure that the FSVP or HACCP importer is in
compliance with the applicable FSVP or HACCP regulations.
7. You have a current facility certification issued in accordance with FDA’s thirdparty certification program for each foreign supplier of food you intend to import
under VQIP. (See Question D.1.)
8. You develop and implement a VQIP Quality Assurance Program (QAP). Your
written QAP is submitted with your VQIP application. (See Section F.)
9. Within the past 3 years, you have not been the subject of any CBP penalties,
forfeitures, or sanctions that are related to the safety or security of any FDAregulated product that you imported or offered for import. (See
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/pdf/USCODE-2011title18-partI-chap47-sec1001.pdf for information about the types of fines and
penalties levied by CBP.)
10. You pay the annual VQIP user fee before October 1 of the year in which you
intend to participate. (See Question J.2.)
C.2 May I obtain the food I import under VQIP from any foreign supplier?
Yes. You may obtain the food you import under VQIP from any foreign supplier,
provided the foreign supplier is not subject to detention without physical examination
under an Import Alert and has a current food facility certification issued by a third-party
certification body accredited under section 808 of the FD&C Act and in accordance with
FDA’s third-party certification regulation. For the purposes of VQIP, the foreign
supplier will be the same as in the FSVP regulation, meaning that for an article of food,
the establishment that manufactures/processes the food, raises the animal, or grows the
food that is exported to the United States without further manufacturing/processing by
another establishment, except for further manufacturing/processing that consists solely of
the addition of labeling or any similar activity of a de minimis nature (see 21 CFR 1.500
(definition of “foreign supplier”)).
C.3 Why should I have at least 3 years of experience importing food into the United
States to participate in VQIP?
FDA believes 3 years of food import history is the minimum needed to adequately
evaluate your application for participation in VQIP. FDA will review the history for all
food you imported into the United States during the past 3 years, not just the food you
wish to import under VQIP. If you have imported food for more than 3 years, we may
extend our review to additional years as necessary to adequately evaluate your
compliance history. For example, if you have infrequently imported foods for 5 years,
we may review your entire 5-year import history. Also, for example, if we find violations
relating to the food, foreign supplier, or importer during the past 3 years, we may review

9

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
more than 3 years of your import history to evaluate your history of follow-up actions for
achieving compliance.
C.4 Should I be a participant in CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program to be eligible to participate in VQIP?
Participation in C-TPAT is not directly linked to participation in VQIP. However, FDA
encourages you to participate in C-TPAT to ensure the food you import under VQIP also
receives entry benefits provided by CBP under C-TPAT. Food security and food defense
for VQIP are discussed further below in Question F.3, V. Food Defense Policies and
Procedures.

D. Foreign Supplier Facility Certification
D.1 What certification for a foreign supplier do I need to have?
Under section 806(d) of the FD&C Act, you must have a facility certification issued
consistent with section 808 of the FD&C Act regarding accreditation of third-party
certification bodies, also known as auditors, for each foreign supplier’s facility from
which you want to import a food under VQIP. For the purposes of section 808 of the
FD&C Act, facilities are not limited to registered facilities under section 415 of the
FD&C Act (e.g., a farm is a facility for purposes of VQIP) (see 21 CFR 1.600 (definition
of “facility”)). The foreign supplier’s facility must have a facility certification, which
would be issued following a regulatory audit conducted by a third-party certification
body accredited under FDA’s third-party certification regulations (accredited
auditor/certification body (see 21 CFR 1.653)). Either you or the foreign supplier may
request the regulatory audit required for facility certification.
An FDA inspection of the foreign supplier would not meet the requirement under section
806(d) of the FD&C Act because an FDA inspection does not result in a facility
certification consistent with section 808 of the FD&C Act as stated in section 806(d).
D.2 What is a facility certification?
A facility certification is an attestation, issued for purposes of section 801(q) or 806 of
the FD&C Act by an accredited third-party certification body, after conducting a
regulatory audit and any other activities necessary to establish whether a facility complies
with the applicable food safety requirements of the FD&C Act and FDA regulations.
Any food that an importer wishes to be covered under VQIP should be within the scope
of the facility certification.
D.3 What is a regulatory audit?
A regulatory audit, for purposes of VQIP, is an audit of a foreign supplier’s facility by an
accredited third-party certification body, in accordance with FDA’s third-party

10

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
certification regulation. The results of the audit are used to determine whether a foreign
supplier is eligible for a facility certification, as described in Question D.2.
D.4 Can I import a raw agricultural commodity under VQIP?
Yes, you can import a raw agricultural commodity under VQIP. You must have a current
facility certification for the farm. (See Question D.1.) You should include in your VQIP
application the certification number assigned by the accredited third-party certification
body who issued he facility certification.
D.5 Must I include a copy of the foreign supplier’s facility certification in my VQIP
application?
No. However you must provide the certification number assigned by the accredited
certification body who issued the facility certification. FDA will use the certification
number you provide in your application to verify there is a current foreign supplier
facility certification.
D.6 How often must a foreign supplier’s facility from which I import food under VQIP
be re-certified?
Under section 808(d)(1) of the FD&C Act, to maintain eligibility for importation under
VQIP, the foreign supplier of a VQIP food must obtain re-certification annually. Further,
under FDA’s third-party certification regulation, an accredited certification body may
issue a certification for a term of up to 1 year, (21 CFR 1.653(b)(1)). Although FDA
anticipates that most foreign supplier facility certifications will have a term of 1 year, an
accredited certification body may find it appropriate in some circumstances to issue the
certification for a shorter term (e.g., based on seasonal productions). This may require
the facility to be re-audited and re-certified more frequently (e.g., when there are multiple
seasonal productions during a year).
D.7 What should I do if a foreign supplier’s facility certification expires during the VQIP
fiscal year?
You are responsible for ensuring that all foreign supplier facility certifications on which
you rely in your VQIP application are current. Therefore, you should manage your
facility certifications to ensure that your certification is current. You should coordinate
with your foreign supplier to ensure a third-party regulatory audit is conducted and a
current facility certification is issued before the expiration of a certification you
referenced in your VQIP application. If you encounter circumstances that prevent you
from obtaining a new certification by the time a current certification expires, you should
promptly inform FDA that you are in the process of getting the new facility certification.
You should update your VQIP application with the current certification number. FDA
will initiate revocation of your participation in VQIP if you import under VQIP a food
that is not covered by a current facility certification. (See Question K.1.) If you
determine you will no longer import a food under VQIP after the certification for the

11

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
facility producing the food expires, you should remove the food from your VQIP
application when the certification expires.

E. VQIP Application
E.1 How do I submit an application to participate in VQIP?
To submit an application to participate in VQIP, you will:
a. Establish an online account on the FDA Industry Systems Web site at
www.access.fda.gov. The information in your online account will autopopulate
into your VQIP application. You can update or change information in your online
account at any time.
b. Each year, between January 1 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and
May 31 at 11:59 p.m. EST, submit, online, a Notice of Intent to Participate in
VQIP and your application to participate in VQIP during the next fiscal year,
beginning October 1 (section 806(c) of the FD&C Act).
Additional information on completing and submitting a VQIP application is provided in
Section G. (See VQIP Portal User Guide https://www.fda.gov/media/113346/download.)
E.2 What information will I need to complete my VQIP application?
The VQIP application is divided into Sections A-G as follows:
Section A. Applicant and Firm Information
Section B. Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) and Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Importer Information
Section C. Quality Assurance Program
Section D. Filer/Broker Information
Section E. Foreign Supplier Facilities and Foods
Section F. Comments
Section G. Summary
Section H. e-Signature
To complete your application, you will need information to accurately fill in the fields in
each section of the online VQIP application. You will also need to attach your QAP. A
VQIP tutorial and resources for completing your application will be posted on FDA’s
VQIP Web page at https://www.fda.gov/food/importing-food-products-unitedstates/voluntary-qualified-importer-program-vqip. (See VQIP Portal User Guide
https://www.fda.gov/media/113346/download.)
E.3 What is a DUNS number?
A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit business identification number provided by the
company D&B. Upon request, D&B will assign a DUNS number for each physical
location of a business.

12

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
E.4 How may I obtain a DUNS number?
You may obtain a DUNS number by contacting D&B at 866-705-5711 or via e-mail to
govt@dnb.com. All entities doing business with the U.S. government can receive a
DUNS number free of charge. Although a DUNS number may be obtained within a few
business days, in some circumstances it could take up to 45 days or more.
E.5 How is a DUNS number used in my VQIP application?
For VQIP, FDA will use the DUNS number as the unique identifier for your specific
location and for each non-applicant entity listed in your VQIP application (e.g., foreign
suppliers, filers/brokers, and FSVP and HACCP importers). You will provide your
DUNS number in your application. In addition, you will enter the address or DUNS
number for each non-applicant entity listed in your VQIP application. If you enter the
address, the system will autopopulate the DUNS number, if available. If you enter the
non-applicant entities’ DUNS numbers, the system will autopopulate the address fields.
E.6 How long will my draft application be maintained in the VQIP application system?
FDA will maintain your draft application in the online VQIP application system for 2
years after the last date that you saved the draft until you complete and submit your
application. After you complete and submit your application, a draft will no longer be
available.
E.7 Will I be informed of FDA changes to the status of my VQIP application?
Yes. FDA will send an email to the contact person provided in your VQIP application
when the status of your application changes. Also, you may check the status of your
application on your VQIP Application home page at http://www.access.fda.gov. The
status will be indicated as one of the following, as applicable:
Draft, Not Submitted
Submitted
Approved
Disapproved
Notice of Intent to Revoke
Notice of Revocation
Revoked
E.8 Do I need to resubmit my VQIP QAP each year that I apply for VQIP?
No. You do not need to resubmit your VQIP QAP each year that you submit a VQIP
application if there are no changes to the QAP last submitted to the Agency. However,
you should ensure that your QAP is current and promptly submit updates to your VQIP
QAP food safety and food defense policies and procedures, as applicable, as you make
changes throughout the VQIP fiscal year. As part of the application process, you will
confirm that your QAP is current.

13

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

E.9 How can I obtain information for determining my filer/broker’s compliance status
with FDA?
The FDA Filer Evaluation Program monitors the accuracy of entry data transmitted
electronically to FDA by filers/brokers. The best way to determine the status is to build a
relationship with the filer/broker. They can provide you with the latest FDA evaluation
results. You may also obtain information about a filer/broker’s compliance status from
FDA Filer Evaluation Outcomes at https://www.fda.gov/industry/actionsenforcement/filer-evaluations#outcome.
E.10 Can I use a filer/broker whose compliance status is not on the FDA Filer Evaluation
Outcomes list?
A filer/broker who is not listed on FDA Filer Evaluation Outcomes list has not been
evaluated by FDA. If your filer/broker has not been evaluated by FDA when you apply,
you or the filer/broker may request FDA to conduct a filer evaluation. The results of the
evaluation will be included in the list of FDA Filer Evaluation Outcomes after FDA
completes the evaluation. If the filer/broker received acceptable results for its FDA Filer
Evaluation, you may use the filer/broker for VQIP entries.
E.11 How can I contact FDA about my VQIP application?
You may contact the VQIP Importers Help Desk for assistance in completing your VQIP
application.
Refer to the contact information on FDA’s VQIP Web page at
https://www.fda.gov/food/importing-food-products-united-states/voluntary-qualifiedimporter-program-vqip for the most up to date links, phone number, and email contact
information.
You may also check the status of your application on your VQIP Application home page
at http://www.access.fda.gov.

F. VQIP Quality Assurance Program
F.1 What is a VQIP Quality Assurance Program (QAP)?
Your VQIP QAP is a compilation of the written policies and procedures you will use to
ensure adequate control over the safety and security of the foods you import. You may
use any format to organize your QAP to include all foods and all of your written policies
and procedures under your VQIP.
F.2 May I use written policies and procedures that are in my existing quality assurance
program and that also apply to VQIP?

14

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
Yes, you may submit your existing written policies and procedures that satisfy the
requirements of the VQIP QAP. If you submit a QAP that includes but is not limited to
the policies and procedures that are applicable to your VQIP QAP, you should identify
the specific policies and procedures that you are submitting for your VQIP QAP. For
example, you may provide a list of references to each applicable document title and page
number under each QAP heading. Your QAP should cover all foods you wish to import
under VQIP. Your QAP is submitted as part of your VQIP application. (See Question
E.8.)
F.3 What should be included in my VQIP QAP?
Your VQIP QAP should include the following components, as applicable:
I. Table of Contents
Provide a Table of Contents that lists the information included in your VQIP QAP.
II. Corporate Quality Policy Statement
Provide your corporate quality policy statement relating to food safety and security
throughout the supply chain. Explain how the quality policy is communicated to all
employees throughout the organization and to non-applicant entities involved in
implementing your VQIP QAP. Describe how you will ensure that employees and nonapplicant entities receive and understand the corporate quality policy statement.
III. Organizational Structure and Functional Responsibilities
Provide an organizational chart or written explanation of the management structure of
your organization, including those responsible for implementing your VQIP QAP.
Provide a written explanation of the functional responsibilities for individuals within your
organization involved in developing, implementing, and maintaining your VQIP QAP,
including the name and title of the individual who has responsibility for administering
your VQIP QAP.
Identify the functional responsibilities of the non-applicant entities needed to implement
your VQIP QAP and how those responsibilities are communicated from your
organization to those entities (e.g., contracts). For example, identify your foreign
supplier’s responsibility relating to conducting a recall of a non-compliant imported food
distributed in the United States.
IV. Food Safety Policies and Procedures
Provide a written description of the policies and procedures you will implement to ensure
food safety from source to entry into the United States (e.g., temperature and storage
controls). Include policies and procedures documents in your VQIP QAP, as follows:

15

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
•
•

•
•
•

•

If the food is subject to the FSVP or HACCP importer regulations and you are the
FSVP or HACCP importer, provide a statement affirming you have established
procedures to ensure compliance with applicable FSVP or HACCP regulations.
If the food is subject to the FSVP or HACCP importer regulations and you are not
the FSVP or HACCP importer, include procedures for ensuring the FSVP or
HACCP importer is in compliance with the applicable FSVP or HACCP
regulations. For example, your procedures may include:
o determining that an FSVP or HACCP importer is not subject to an FDA
enforcement action
o obtaining annual written assurance or attestation from an FSVP or
HACCP importer that they are in compliance with the applicable FSVP or
HACCP regulations.
Provide written procedures for maintaining current foreign supplier certifications
required under section 806(d) of the FD&C Act and any applicable food
certifications required under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 381(q)).
Provide your procedures for controlling the safety of each VQIP food throughout
the transportation supply chain, including compliance with FDA’s sanitary
transport rule, if applicable.
Provide written procedures for communicating information to FDA and others
(e.g., non-applicant entities, consumers) relating to food and foreign supplier noncompliances that pose a risk to public health. Identify the scope of
communications that will be limited to within the organization, and the criteria
for, as appropriate, communicating non-compliances to your foreign supplier and
other regulatory authorities (e.g., U.S. Federal, State, and local authorities and
foreign authorities).
Provide written procedures for corrective actions to address food and foreign
supplier non-compliances that pose a risk to public health. Include procedures to
trace and track non-compliant food, prevent further distribution of the food, and
initiate recall if necessary. Also, include procedures for working with a noncompliant foreign supplier to correct the problem, criteria for discontinuing use of
a foreign supplier, and procedures to identify alternate suppliers for a food.

V. Food Defense Policies and Procedures
Provide a written description of your food defense system, as applicable. You should
provide your procedures for ensuring your foreign supplier’s food defense system is in
compliance with FDA’s Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional
Adulteration regulation (intentional adulteration regulation) (21 CFR part 121), if
applicable. In addition, you should provide your procedures for controlling the security
of each VQIP food throughout the transportation supply chain. Your food defense
system policies and procedures do not need to include foods that are not subject to the
intentional adulteration regulations. If your food defense system includes participation in
CBP’s C-TPAT (Level 2 or Level 3) and you acknowledge your participation in C-TPAT
in your application, you do not need to provide additional information regarding your
transportation food defense procedures.

16

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
VI. Qualifications
Identify the qualification requirements for employees responsible for implementing the
VQIP QAP. Include:
• Requirements relating to knowledge of the FD&C Act and implementing
regulations that apply to the foods and the foreign suppliers of foods you import
under VQIP (e.g., current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs), produce
safety, FSVP, preventive controls, juice HACCP, seafood HACCP, low-acid
canned food, intentional adulteration, sanitary transport, and food labeling), and
• The qualifications (e.g., knowledge, skills, and training) required for each
employee who has responsibilities relating to developing, implementing, and
maintaining the QAP.
VII. QAP Implementation
Provide your procedures for ensuring your VQIP QAP is current and appropriately
implemented, including procedures for auditing and updating the QAP and for providing
updates to the QAP in your VQIP application.
VIII. Records
Provide your written procedures for establishing and maintaining records relating to the
structure, processes, procedures, and implementation of your VQIP QAP. Your
procedures should specify that all written records relating to establishing and maintaining
your QAP are to be legible and made available to FDA upon request. You may keep
records in a language other than English. However, you will need to provide FDA with
an English translation of any requested records within a reasonable time.
•

•

The QAP structure, processes, and procedures documents:
o Should be signed and dated by the individual who has overall
responsibility for the QAP.
o Should indicate their effective date.
o Should be maintained for as long as they are in effect.
The records you establish and maintain to implement your QAP:
o Should be signed and dated by the responsible individual, as indicated in
your QAP.
o Should be maintained for at least 2 years after they are created.

IX. Definitions
Define terms used in your VQIP QAP, as necessary to facilitate understanding and
implementation of the QAP.
X. References

17

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
Provide references to information or sources used to develop and implement your QAP,
as appropriate.

G. Application Period and VQIP Fiscal Year
G.1 When do I submit my VQIP application?
You can submit your VQIP application between January 1 at 12:00 a.m. EST and May 31
at 11:59 p.m. EST.
G.2 When is the VQIP fiscal year?
The VQIP fiscal year is the same as the U.S. Federal government's fiscal year, which
begins October 1 at 12:00 a.m. EST and ends September 30 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The
VQIP fiscal year is the period for which approved VQIP applicants will receive benefits.
G.3 Do I need to submit a new VQIP application each year?
Yes. You must submit an application for each fiscal year you want to participate in
VQIP. However, the online VQIP application system is designed to allow you to use
data from the previous year’s application to populate your new application. Prior to
beginning the process of submitting a new application for a subsequent year, if you
intend to use information from your current application, you should ensure that your
current application is up-to-date (i.e., you have submitted all amendments that apply to
your current application). When you create your new application for a subsequent year,
you can add a new food from a new foreign supplier and the required information relating
to the new food. (See VQIP Portal User Guide
https://www.fda.gov/media/113346/download.)
G.4 Will FDA send VQIP participants a reminder to submit an application for the next
VQIP fiscal year?
Yes. It is the importer’s responsibility to submit a Notice of Intent to Participate and a
new application if they intend to participate in VQIP during the next fiscal year. In
December of each year, FDA will send participating VQIP importers an email reminder
of this responsibility.
G.5 Will my VQIP application be kept confidential by FDA?
We will protect confidential information in your VQIP application from disclosure,
consistent with applicable statutes and regulations, including 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), 18
U.S.C. 1905, and 21 CFR part 20. We will share information in your application with
other government agencies, such as CBP, in accordance with applicable law. This will
allow CBP to recognize VQIP applicants and the VQIP foods they offer for entry into the
United States. In addition, we will share the status of the application with other

18

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
government agencies, if appropriate. This will be done in accordance with applicable
statutes, regulations, and agreements between agencies.

H. FDA VQIP Application Review
H.1 How will FDA review my VQIP application?
FDA will review your application for completeness and data accuracy and will evaluate
your eligibility for VQIP in accordance with the criteria set forth in this guidance
document. FDA will review your compliance history and the compliance history of all
foods and foreign suppliers listed in your VQIP application and all non-applicant entities
associated with the import transaction within the supply chain for each food, including
your filers/brokers. FDA will also review your QAP to evaluate whether you are
adequately controlling factors relating to the safety and security of the food you intend to
import under your VQIP.
If you are a C-TPAT participant, FDA will verify your participation in the C-TPAT
program. During a VQIP inspection, FDA may review your transportation food defense
procedures. If you are not in good standing with C-TPAT, we will consider whether
factors relating to your C-TPAT participation status affect your eligibility for VQIP. If
you decide not to reapply for C-TPAT, your decision would only affect your VQIP
eligibility if it was related to a food safety issue.
H.2 Will FDA inform me of the reasons for disapproval if my application is not
approved?
Yes. During FDA review of your application, if we identify deficiencies which you may
be able to readily correct during the application period, we will permit you to correct the
deficiencies. However, if corrections are not made or FDA otherwise determines that
you are not eligible to participate in VQIP, we will disapprove your application and
inform you of the reasons for the disapproval.
H.3 What are some reasons for FDA disapproval of my VQIP application?
Some reasons for FDA disapproval of your application include:
• Your application is incomplete;
• Your QAP is inadequate (e.g., your policies and procedures do not ensure that
food safety requirements are met);
• You do not meet one or more of the VQIP eligibility requirements (see Question
C.1) and you do not provide an adequate alternative or justification;
• You provide inaccurate data or information; or
• You make false or fraudulent statements in your application.
H.4 Will FDA conduct an inspection before I receive VQIP benefits?

19

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
FDA ordinarily will conduct a VQIP inspection after your application is approved and
prior to October 1 of the first year that you participate in VQIP. However, if FDA does
not complete the VQIP inspection prior to October 1, when the VQIP fiscal year begins,
receipt of VQIP benefits will not be delayed pending that inspection, unless FDA’s
inspection is significantly delayed or prevented because of actions or omissions by the
VQIP importer or by restrictions in travel or access to a foreign VQIP importer that
prevent FDA inspection of a foreign VQIP importer (e.g., Department of State
restrictions, safety concerns).
H.5 What is the scope and purpose of the VQIP inspection?
FDA will conduct a VQIP inspection to verify that you meet the VQIP eligibility criteria
and have fully implemented the food safety and food defense systems established in your
QAP. The inspection will typically include a review of the written procedures and
records demonstrating compliance with VQIP. If you are both the VQIP and FSVP
Importer for one or more foods you import under this program, FDA may also conduct an
FSVP inspection to assess your compliance with the FSVP regulations. FDA may also
request a copy of food labels for the foods you include in your application, to determine
if there are labeling violations relating to the risk of the food (e.g., failure to disclose an
allergen). You will be asked to address any label deficiencies. FDA will notify you
regarding the results of the VQIP inspection.
H.6 What additional information may FDA ask me to submit during Agency review of
my VQIP application?
FDA may ask you to submit additional documentation to support your application. For
example, if you are the FSVP or HACCP importer, FDA may request a copy of the
hazard analysis required under FSVP for a food listed on your VQIP application or the
results of any laboratory tests used to comply with FSVP or HACCP regulations for a
food listed on your VQIP application. If you are not the FSVP or HACCP importer, FDA
may request you to obtain the information from that importer. FDA may also request
copies of any food labels for foods included in your application, to determine if there are
labeling violations relating to the risk of the food (e.g., failure to disclose an allergen).
H.7 How will FDA contact me if the Agency needs additional information to support my
VQIP application?
If FDA needs additional information about your application, we will contact the person
listed in your application via phone and email.
H.8 How often will FDA evaluate me for VQIP eligibility?
The first year that you submit a VQIP application, FDA will review all aspects of your
application and conduct an inspection to verify your eligibility. The inspection will
ensure that you are implementing the food safety and food defense systems, if applicable,
stated in your QAP. It will also typically include a review of the labeling for your VQIP

20

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
food related to the risk of the food, and the written procedures and records demonstrating
compliance with VQIP. Thereafter, we will reevaluate your eligibility at least once every
3 years that you participate in VQIP (section 806(e) of the FD&C Act). An event such as
an outbreak or recall linked to a food included in your VQIP application (or a similar
food), a new hazard associated with a VQIP food, or intelligence data related to
violations associated with one or more entities (e.g., foreign supplier, filer/broker) listed
on your VQIP application may prompt FDA to reevaluate your eligibility, including
conducting an inspection, more frequently than once every 3 years. In addition, FDA
will review and evaluate changes to your application as needed, including changes you
make when you submit a new application.
H.9 How will FDA inform me that my application is approved?
After FDA approves your application, we will send an email to the contact person
provided in your VQIP application. The message will include the VQIP Affirmation of
Compliance (AofC) code you will use to identify entries of VQIP foods.
This message may be used to provide confirmation of your participation in VQIP to other
parties you do business with if you have chosen to opt out of being listed on the VQIP
importers list.
You may also check the status of your application on your VQIP Application home page
at http://www.access.fda.gov.

I. VQIP Application Amendments
I.1 What amendments to my VQIP application should I make after the application is
approved to ensure that I maintain eligibility to participate in VQIP?
To maintain your eligibility in VQIP (see Question C.1) and avoid revocation, you should
promptly amend your VQIP application to provide information or documentation when
you take any of the following actions:
• Remove a food listed on your VQIP application that is subject to an ongoing FDA
administrative or judicial action (e.g., Import Alert, seizure).
• Remove a foreign supplier listed on your VQIP application who is the subject of
an ongoing FDA administrative or judicial action (e.g., Import Alert, injunction,
suspension of registration).
• Remove an FSVP or HACCP importer of a food who is the subject of an ongoing
FDA administrative or judicial action (e.g., Import Alert, debarment).
• Remove a filer/broker who does not meet the VQIP filer/broker requirements.
• Provide updates to your QAP food safety or food defense policies or procedures
(see Question F.3 regarding Food Safety Policies and Procedures and Food
Defense Policies and Procedures).
• Provide a current facility certification issued by an accredited auditor/certification
body.
• Provide information or documentation requested by FDA to correct deficiencies.
21

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

I.2 What amendments am I permitted to make to my VQIP application for business
purposes during the VQIP fiscal year?
As necessary for your business purposes, you can amend your VQIP application to:
• Add a food from a foreign supplier already in your VQIP;
• Remove a food, the foreign supplier of a food, or the FSVP or HACCP importer
for a food;
• Replace a foreign supplier or FSVP or HACCP importer for a food that is already
listed in your VQIP application as long as the foreign supplier has a current
facility certification as described in C.1.7; and
• Add or remove a filer/broker.
I.3 What changes to my VQIP application are not permitted during the VQIP year?
During the VQIP fiscal year, you may not amend your application to add a new food
from a foreign supplier who is not in your VQIP. You may add a new food from a
foreign supplier who is not in your VQIP when you submit your VQIP application for the
subsequent VQIP fiscal year.
I.4 What are the consequences if I do not submit to FDA changes I make to the food
safety and food defense policies and procedures in my VQIP QAP?
If FDA determines you made changes to your QAP food safety or food defense policies
and procedures without promptly revising the QAP in your application, depending on the
nature of the changes, FDA may initiate revocation of your participation in VQIP. (See
Question K.1.)

J. VQIP User Fees
J.1 Must I pay a user fee to participate in VQIP?
Yes. Section 743 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 379j-31) requires that each importer
participating in VQIP pay a fee to cover FDA’s costs of administering the program. FDA
will charge the VQIP user fee on an annual basis for each VQIP fiscal year that you are
approved to participate in VQIP. After FDA approves your application, you must pay the
user fee before October 1, the start of the VQIP fiscal year, to begin receiving benefits for
that VQIP fiscal year.
J.2 What will happen if I do not pay the VQIP user fee before October 1?
If you do not pay the user fee before October 1, you are not eligible to participate in
VQIP. For the first year your VQIP application is approved, if you do not pay the user
fee before October 1, your VQIP benefits will not begin on October 1. If you
subsequently pay the user fee, FDA will begin your benefits after we receive the full
payment. For a subsequent year, if you do not pay the user fee before October 1, FDA
22

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
will send a Notice of Intent to Revoke your participation in VQIP. If you do not pay the
user fee within 30 days of the date of the Notice of Intent to Revoke, we will revoke your
participation in VQIP. (See Question K.1.)
J.3 If FDA conducts the VQIP inspection after October 1 and finds deviations that may
affect my eligibility to participate in VQIP, will the Agency refund the VQIP user fee?
No. If FDA finds deviations after October 1 that may affect your eligibility to participate
in VQIP, we will send you a Notice of Intent to Revoke your participation in VQIP. The
Notice of Intent to Revoke will indicate that you have 30 days to make corrections. (See
Question K.2.)
J.4 If I withdraw from VQIP or FDA revokes my participation in VQIP, will I receive a
refund of the VQIP user fee?
No. FDA will not refund the VQIP user fee for any reason.
J.5 Where can I locate the VQIP user fee rates for current and past fiscal years?
On or before August 1 each year, FDA will publish a Federal Register notice announcing
the VQIP user fee schedule for the next VQIP year. Current and past VQIP fiscal year
user fee rates can also be found at https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-user-feeprograms/voluntary-qualified-importer-program-user-fees.

K. Revocation of VQIP Participation
K.1 Can FDA revoke my participation in VQIP?
Yes. FDA may:
• Revoke your participation in VQIP based on evidence that you do not meet one or
more of the VQIP eligibility requirements (see Question C.1), or
• Immediately revoke your participation in VQIP based on evidence that you
participated in smuggling or other fraudulent activities (see Question K.3).
Revocation of your participation in VQIP will apply to all foods you import under VQIP.
K.2 How will FDA notify me of a potential revocation of my participation in VQIP?
If FDA has credible evidence that you do not meet one or more of the VQIP eligibility
requirements, FDA will send a Notice of Intent to Revoke your participation in VQIP by
email to the contact person identified in your VQIP application. The Notice of Intent to
Revoke will explain the basis for the proposed revocation. The Notice of Intent to
Revoke will indicate that, within 30 days of the date of the Notice of Intent to Revoke,
you must make corrections and provide FDA with evidence of the corrections. Benefits
will continue for those 30 days unless FDA believes there is a risk to public health. If all
corrections cannot be made within 30 days, you can submit a corrective action plan that
includes detailed steps and a timeline for correction. If you do not respond or you do not
23

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
submit an adequate corrective action plan within 30 days, FDA will revoke your
participation in VQIP. FDA will send a Notice of Revocation by email to the contact
person identified in your VQIP application. Revocation of benefits will be effective on
the date on which FDA sends the Notice of Revocation email. If after revocation, you
believe you have made corrections to support reinstatement, you may contact FDA. FDA
will review your request to determine if your corrective actions support reinstatement of
your benefits for the remainder of the VQIP fiscal year. (See Section L.)
If FDA obtains credible evidence that you participated in smuggling or other fraudulent
activities, FDA will immediately revoke your participation in VQIP. Examples of
activities that may lead to immediate revocation include declaring an entry as a VQIP
food when it is not or otherwise attempting to smuggle a product into the United States.
In such cases, FDA will send a Notice of Immediate Revocation to the contact person
listed in your application. The Notice of Immediate Revocation will identify FDA’s
reason for immediately revoking your participation in VQIP. If you believe revocation
was in error, you may contact FDA upon receipt of this notice. Your VQIP participation
and, thus, VQIP benefits will stop for all of your VQIP foods on the day that FDA sends
the Notice of Immediate Revocation. FDA will not reinstate your participation in VQIP
for the remainder of the VQIP fiscal year. FDA will not approve your VQIP applications
for subsequent years, unless you provide sufficient evidence of affirmative steps to
ensure that fraudulent activity does not occur again. Additionally, revocation of VQIP
participation does not prevent the Agency from taking other enforcement actions, if
warranted.
K.3 How might FDA learn of deviations that impact my participation in VQIP?
FDA may obtain information relating to a potential deviation from the criteria for your
VQIP participation through FDA activities (e.g., an FSVP inspection of a VQIP
participant) or from other sources. FDA will review information obtained to determine
whether a deviation exists and, if so, whether the nature and scope of the deviation
warrant the revocation of your VQIP eligibility. Sources from which FDA may obtain
information relating to potential deviations include:
• You or other VQIP participants
• FSVP and HACCP importers
• Filers/brokers
• Recall data and reportable food registry data
• FDA inspection reports and laboratory analytical results
• Third-party certification bodies
• Foreign suppliers
• Other regulatory government agencies (e.g., CBP, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, States, foreign regulatory authorities)
K.4 If I encounter a problem with a VQIP food or a foreign supplier, what action should I
take to avoid revocation?

24

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
Your participation in VQIP is based on your ability to maintain a high level of control
over the safety and security of your supply chain for the foods you import under VQIP.
You are responsible for promptly reporting to FDA all deviations that may impact your
eligibility to participate in VQIP and your plans for correcting the deviations. Your
VQIP QAP should include procedures for taking prompt corrective actions, for updating
your procedures as necessary to prevent future occurrences of the problem, and for
notifying FDA. (See Section F., VQIP Quality Assurance Program.)
K.5 If my VQIP participation is revoked, will I lose benefits provided by other Federal
importer programs in which I participate?
Decisions relating to a loss of benefits or revocation from other Federal importer
programs, such as CBP’s C-TPAT program, will be made by the agencies that oversee
those programs. However, in the interest of FDA’s continued collaboration with our
Federal partners, FDA will share VQIP revocation information with other Federal
agencies, when appropriate, in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, and
agreements between agencies.

L. Reinstatement of VQIP Participation
L.1 How can I obtain reinstatement of my participation in VQIP or VQIP benefits after a
revocation?
When revocation is based upon evidence that you do not meet one or more of the VQIP
eligibility requirements, you may request FDA to reinstate your VQIP participation and
VQIP benefits at any time after you have corrected the deviations associated with your
revocation. Your request should include documentation of actions you have taken to
correct or resolve all of the deviations. The following are examples of information you
might submit to support your request for reinstatement:
• If you have been subjected to CBP penalties, forfeitures, or sanctions within the
past 3 years, you may need to provide documentation that you have made all
necessary corrections and have settled the matter with CBP.
• If you used a filer/broker who was not in good standing with FDA, you may need
to:
o Document that the filer/broker received additional training to ensure
improvements in the information submitted to FDA on your behalf,
o Use a new filer/broker that is in good standing with FDA, or
o Revise your QAP to establish procedures to ensure that you use only
filers/brokers that are in good standing with FDA.
• If you used a foreign supplier who did not have a valid facility certification, you
may need to remove the foreign supplier and foods received from the foreign
supplier from your VQIP application and revise your QAP as necessary to ensure
that you maintain current certifications for your foreign suppliers.
• If your revocation is based on a food safety deviation by the foreign supplier, and
documentation alone (e.g., revised SOPs, revised HACCP plans, batch records) is
not sufficient to show that the foreign supplier has adequately corrected the food

25

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

•

safety deviation, you may need to obtain a new third-party facility certification of
the foreign supplier.
If your QAP is deficient or outdated, you may need to document appropriate
revisions to address the deficiencies and update your VQIP application with
applicable revisions to your QAP.

FDA will review your request for reinstatement as soon as possible after it is received.
Prior to approving your reinstatement, FDA will verify whether you have implemented
the appropriate corrective actions. FDA may verify your corrective actions by
conducting an inspection or by reviewing your documentation of the corrective actions,
as appropriate. If your VQIP benefits are not reinstated during the fiscal year in which
they are revoked, you may apply for VQIP for the next fiscal year by submitting a new
application during the application period. Your application should include
documentation of action taken to correct or resolve the basis for your ineligibility that
caused the revocation.
FDA will not reinstate your participation in VQIP if your participation was immediately
revoked based on evidence of smuggling or other fraudulent activity. (See Question J.4.)

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This guidance contains information collection provisions that are subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 240-260
hours per respondent initially, and 36-46 hours per respondent annually thereafter,
including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data
needed, and complete and review the information collection. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or suggestions for reducing this burden to:
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Office of Operations
FDA PRA Staff
PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov
The guidance also refers to previously approved collections of information found in FDA
regulations. The collections of information regarding food labeling have been approved
under OMB Control No. 0910-0381; the collections of information regarding Low Acid
Canned Food have been approved under OMB Control No. 0910-0037; the collections of
information regarding Third-Party Certification Bodies to Conduct Food Safety Audits
and to Issue Certifications have been approved under OMB Control No. 0910-0750; the
collections of information regarding Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard
Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food have been approved under
OMB Control No. 0910-0751; the collections of information regarding Current Good
26

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations
Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for
Food for Animals have been approved under OMB Control No. 0910-0789; the
collections of information regarding the Foreign Supplier Verification Program have been
approved under OMB Control No. 0910-0752; the collections of information regarding
the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food have been approved under OMB
Control No. 0910-0773; and the collections of information regarding Focused Mitigation
Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration have been approved under
OMB Control No. 0910-0812.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
The OMB control number for this information collection is 0910-0840 (To find the
current expiration date, select the most recent ICR Ref. No. at
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAOMBHistory?ombControlNumber=09100840).

27

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

V. Document History
Status of
Guidance
Draft
guidance
Final
guidance

Final
guidance
Final
guidance

Timing of
Current
Version
June 2015

Type of
Revisions

Description of Changes

Level 1

First version

November
2016

Level 1

March 2022

Level 2

July 2023

Level 2

Edits made as described in the Federal Register
notice at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016
/11/14/2016-27252/voluntary-qualifiedimporter-program-guidance-for-industryavailability
Edits made to update PRA information and to
update links throughout the guidance
Edit to PRA address

28