Food

  The Food and Drug Administration has heightened the security of American food supplies with a program known in the trade as Prior Notice. In this program, all parties to the shipment- the shipper, the overseas  grower, packager, importer, etc- must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration, and details of the shipment must be disclosed to FDA prior to arrival in the United States. Your Customs Broker can assist you with this process. Warning! Virtually ALL commercial shipments of food not disclosed prior to arrival will be seized and destroyed! This very important process safeguards the nation's food supply, and lack of information of the regulations will not protect your shipment from seizure.

For a typical food shipment, your broker will need:

  • a copy of the airway bill or Ocean Bill of Lading. Do not wait until the shipment is here!
  • a copy of the commercial invoice listing the manufacturer's/ grower's/ or harvester's FDA registration numbers
  • a copy of the packing list
  • a copy of the arrival notice
  • Your FDA registration number
  • A Prior Notice confirmation number (optional)

There are some foodstuffs that are not permitted to be exported from certain countries because of low standards of quality. There are also quotas applied to particular kinds of produce, meats and fish. Your Customs Broker can help ensure your food imports are cleared efficiently and correctly through Customs and the other Government agencies. Be sure to contact one before your next shipment.

Jean D. Duncan Customs Brokers, Inc.

404.766.0207

info@jeanduncan.com