This guidance document is a restatement of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA's) current requirements for prior notice of food presented in simplified format and language. As guidance, it is not binding on either FDA or the public. FDA notes, however, that the regulation that is the basis for this pamphlet establishes requirements for all covered activities. For this reason, FDA strongly recommends that affected parties consult the regulation at 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart I, in addition to reading this pamphlet.
The Food and Drug Administration has prepared this guidance to restate the legal requirements set forth in 21 CFR 1.276 through 1.285 concerning prior notice of imported food under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. This guide is intended to help any entity, regardless of size, to comply with the regulations that require the submission to FDA of prior notice of food, including animal feed, that is imported or offered for import into the United States. This document also serves as FDA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), in accordance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Public Law 104-121).
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 or other food-related emergencies.
To carry out the provisions of the Bioterrorism Act, FDA issued a final regulation amending the existing requirements in 21 CFR Part 1, Subpart I, which requires that FDA be given advance notice on shipments of imported food.
The amended regulations went into effect on May 6, 2009.
An amendment to the regulations was also made as required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). An interim final rule went into effect July 3, 2011 that requires an additional element of information in a prior notice of imported food. This change requires a person submitting prior notice of imported food, including food for animals, to report the name of any country to which the article has been refused entry. The new information can help FDA make better informed decisions in managing the potential risks of food imported into the United States.
This booklet was created to inform food transporters, food importers and exporters, foreign manufacturers and growers, and food filers and brokers about the prior notice requirements, as amended. It contains important information that may affect your food imports.
As of December 12, 2003, FDA must be notified in advance of any shipments of food for humans and other animals that are imported into the U.S., unless the food is exempt from Prior Notice.
Prior Notice of imported food shipments will give FDA time to:
On October 10, 2003, the Secretaries of the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) jointly published an interim final rule (2003 IFR) to implement prior notice. The 2003 IFR took effect on December 12, 2003, as required by the Bioterrorism Act; however, FDA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gave interested persons 165 days to comment on the provisions of the 2003 IFR that we would consider as we developed the final rule. The final rule, which took effect on May 6, 2009, maintains the majority of the requirements found in the 2003 IFR and includes revisions in a few key areas.
Highlights of the final rule include but are not limited to:
FDA issued an interim final rule (2011 IFR) to require that additional information be provided in a prior notice of imported food submitted to FDA. Specifically, the 2011 IFR requires a person submitting prior notice of imported food, including food for animals, to report, in addition to other information already required, “any country to which the article has been refused entry.” The 2011 IFR, which took effect July 3, 2011, implements section 304 of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
If you export, transport, or import food into/through the United States, FDA must be given Prior Notice of imported food shipments.
For purposes of Prior Notice, “food” is defined as:
Note: "Food" does not include food contact substances or pesticides.
Prior Notice is required for imports of all foods that are subject to the regulation. However, certain exemptions apply.
The following chart lists food imports that require Prior Notice. If the food you are importing falls under one of these requirements, be sure to review the Exemptions box (on the following page) to see whether any exemptions apply.
The following chart lists exemptions from the Prior Notice rule. If any of these exemptions apply to a food shipment you are importing, you do NOT have to submit Prior Notice for that shipment.
Any individual with knowledge of the required information can submit Prior Notice. This includes individuals, manufacturers, exporters, brokers, importers, and U.S. agents.
Food that is imported or offered for import with inadequate Prior Notice is subject to refusal and, if refused, must be held at the port of entry unless directed to another location. The importing or offering for import into the U.S. of an article of food in violation of Prior Notice requirements is a "Prohibited Act" under the laws FDA administers. FDA has provided its staff with enforcement guidance containing the agency's policies on refusals, holds, injunctions, prosecution, and debarment related to failure to provide timely and accurate Prior Notice or otherwise comply with FDA Prior Notice regulations.
Note: Prior Notice guidance documents are available to the public and posted on FDA’s website. FDA will continue to update these as appropriate.
Prior Notice must be submitted electronically through either of the following systems:
The FDA Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. FDA’s and CBP’s computer systems enable you to submit Prior Notice as part of the entry process. This will avoid duplication of information.
If a broker's or filer's Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system or the ABI/Automated Commercial System (ACS) interface is not operating, Prior Notice must be submitted through the FDA Prior Notice System Interface.
If the FDA PNSI is not operating, or if the Operational and Administrative System for Import Support (OASIS) is not operating, FDA will post prominent notification and instructions on the System Status web page. FDA will accept Prior Notice submissions in the format it deems appropriate during the system(s) outage.
FDA must electronically receive and confirm Prior Notice before a food shipment arrives at the first port in the United States (port of arrival). The deadline for submitting Prior Notice depends on the mode of transportation used for shipment.
Except in the case of food arriving by international mail, FDA must receive and confirm a Prior Notice: 1) no more than 30 days before a shipment arrives, if Prior Notice is submitted via ABI/ACS; or 2) no more than 15 days before a shipment arrives, if Prior Notice is submitted via FDA’s PNSI.
For Shipments Arriving:
Prior Notice Must Be Submitted:
By land via road
No less than 2 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
By land via rail
No less than 4 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
No less than 4 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
No less than 8 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
By international mail
Before the food is sent
Carried by or otherwise accompanying an individual
Within the timeframe for the applicable mode of transportation
Prior Notice is submitted using FDA PNSI
The Prior Notice confirmation number must accompany the food and be provided upon arrival.
An article of food arrives by international mail
The parcel must bear the Prior Notice confirmation number.
An article of food is carried by or otherwise accompanies an individual
The food must be accompanied by Prior Notice confirmation.
Note: Unless the Prior Notice is for food arriving by international mail or is carried by or otherwise accompanies an individual, Prior Notice submitted by ABI/ACS does not require additional documentation (although it may be prudent for the carrier to have a copy of Prior Notice confirmation or the associated entry number in his/her possession when arriving at the port of arrival).
FDA offers an online tutorial on how to use the FDA Prior Notice System Interface. The FDA PNSI has Help features and interactive feedback to assist the submitter and minimize spelling mistakes and omissions. In addition, FDA has two offices that can provide assistance with Prior Notice:
FDA Industry Systems Help Desk answers technical and computer-related questions about the Prior Notice System Interface
Hours: 7:30 AM – 11 PM U.S Eastern Time
Phone: 1-800-216-7331 or 301-575-0156
FAX: 1-866-573-2804 or 301-436-2804
FDA Prior Notice Center answers questions about Prior Notice policies, procedures and interpretations
Hours: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
For assistance with ACS transmissions, contact your CBP client representative.
Importers or brokers already provide most of the information required for Prior Notice to CBP when goods arrive in the U.S. According to the Bioterrorism Act, FDA must receive the required information before a shipment of food arrives.
Some Highlights of Required Information
Prior Notice Screen
Here is a sample screen from the FDA Prior Notice System Interface:
Both the ABI/ACS and the PNSI review the Prior Notice information you submit and provide feedback to help minimize errors. During submission, if information is missing or appears to be incorrect, or if there appear to be typographical errors, the system will give you an opportunity to make corrections electronically.
Once you submit all of the required Prior Notice information, you will receive confirmation, including a confirmation number, from FDA directly or from FDA through CBP’s ABI/ACS.
Note: This confirmation means that FDA has deemed your Prior Notice facially complete. The confirmation does NOT mean that FDA has determined your Prior Notice is accurate, that FDA has approved the shipment, or that FDA has determined that the shipment may proceed without further FDA action. Subsequent system review and review by FDA staff may result in inspection of the imported food shipment upon arrival, or other action.
FDA recommends that Prior Notice confirmation accompanies any shipment of imported food.
If a Shipment Arrives…
By commercial carrier
If Prior Notice was submitted through the FDA PNSI, the carrier must have the Prior Notice confirmation number. In other cases, it is prudent for the carrier to have a copy of Prior Notice confirmation or the confirmation number in his/her possession when arriving at the port of arrival.
By international mail
The package must bear the Prior Notice confirmation number.
Carried by or otherwise accompanying an individual arriving in the U.S.
The individual must have a copy of Prior Notice confirmation.
FDA must have adequate time to receive, review, and respond to each Prior Notice submission. Therefore, you cannot amend or change Prior Notice information once FDA has confirmed it. Instead, if any of the information in the following table changes, you must submit a new Prior Notice.
Note: FDA suggests that you cancel the previous Prior Notice before submitting a new one.
Note: Changes in estimated quantity, anticipated arrival, and planned shipment information do NOT require a new Prior Notice.
Note: The Prior Notice "clock" starts again when Prior Notice with the correct information is confirmed by FDA.
Prior Notice for food that was refused by FDA for inadequate Prior Notice and was ordered to a holding facility must include:
WHAT It Is: As of December 12, 2003, FDA must be notified in advance of any shipments of food for humans and other animals that are imported into the U.S., unless the food is exempt from Prior Notice.
WHY It’s Required: To give FDA time to:
WHICH Industry Sectors Are Affected
For purposes of Prior Notice, “food” is defined as:
Articles used for food or drink for man or other animals; chewing gum; and articles used for components of any such articles (excluding food contact substances and pesticides).
Some Highlights of Required Information
Exemptions from the Prior Notice Rule
WHO Can Give Prior Notice: Any individual with knowledge of the required information — including manufacturers, exporters, brokers, importers, and U.S. agents.
HOW to Give Prior Notice: Submit electronically through CBP’s ABI/ACS or the FDA’s PNSI.
WHEN to Give Prior Notice: Except in the case of food arriving by international mail, FDA must receive and confirm a Prior Notice: 1) no more than 30 days before a shipment arrives, if Prior Notice is submitted via ABI/ACS; or 2) no more than 15 days before a shipment arrives, if Prior Notice is submitted via FDA’s PNSI.
By land via road
No less than 2 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
By land via rail
No less than 4 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
No less than 4 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
No less than 8 hours before arriving at the port of arrival
By international mail
Before the food is sent
Carried by or otherwise accompanying an individual
Within the timeframe for the applicable mode of transportation
Getting HELP:
FDA Industry Systems Help Desk answers technical and computer-related questions about the Prior Notice System Interface
Hours: 7:30 AM – 11 PM U.S Eastern Time
Phone: 1-800-216-7331 or 301-575-0156
FAX: 1-866-573-2804 or 301-436-2804
FDA Prior Notice Center answers questions about Prior Notice policies, procedures and interpretations
Hours: 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))
If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:
Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2011-N-0179.