Registration starts with the facility.
Companies around the world that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States generally must register their facilities with FDA, unless an exemption applies. This guide helps you organize the questions and information to review before filing.
- Assess each facility and its activities.
- Include ingredients and flavors intended for food.
- Check exemptions before submitting.
- Foreign facilities need a U.S. agent.
- Prepare an acceptable unique facility identifier.
- Keep registration information current and renew when required.
This educational guide is based on linked FDA resources. Evaluate the rules against your facility’s circumstances.
Who needs to register?
The requirement is based on what a facility does and the intended U.S. consumption of the food. It can apply to U.S. facilities and facilities abroad, including ingredient suppliers whose products become components of finished foods.
| Facility or product | What to review |
|---|---|
| Food and beverage manufacturing | Manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding food for U.S. consumption. |
| Ingredients and flavors | Food components, including ingredients used by another manufacturer. |
| Dietary supplement components | FDA treats these as food for registration purposes, subject to exemptions. |
| Warehouses and packing facilities | Holding and packing activities can trigger registration. |
| Food-contact materials only | Food-contact substances are excluded from “food” for this registration rule. |
Check exemptions and the supply chain.
FDA identifies exemptions for categories such as farms, restaurants, retail food establishments, and private residences. The regulatory definitions and actual activities matter; a business label alone does not establish an exemption.
Foreign facilities in a multi-step supply chain should consult FDA’s guidance on further manufacturing or processing outside the United States. Do not assume every upstream location must register, or that another facility’s registration covers your location.
Gather the details before filing.
Use consistent facility identity information across your records. FDA registration submissions include the facility’s name and contact details, applicable product categories, ownership information, and certifications.
- Facility name, physical address, contact details, and trade names.
- Parent company details, if applicable.
- Owner, operator, or agent in charge and authorized submitter information.
- Applicable food product categories and facility activities.
- An FDA-acceptable unique facility identifier (UFI).
- For foreign facilities: U.S. agent and emergency contact information.
FDA currently recognizes the D-U-N-S number as an acceptable UFI. Verify that the identifier and facility records correspond to the location being registered.
Designate a U.S. agent.
A foreign facility’s U.S. agent serves as the communications link with FDA. The agent must reside or maintain a place of business in the United States and be physically present; a mailbox or answering service alone is insufficient.
Confirm the agent’s agreement, contact details, and ability to handle routine and emergency communications before filing. FDA treats information provided to the agent as information provided to the foreign facility.
Use FDA’s registration system.
- Confirm scope. Review the facility’s activities and any applicable exemption.
- Prepare your identifier and contacts. Resolve inconsistencies before submission.
- Access FDA Industry Systems. Use the Food Facility Registration module.
- Complete the filing. Review the categories, certifications, and authorization details.
- Retain your records. Protect account access and registration information.
Electronic submission is required unless FDA grants a waiver. FDA does not charge a food facility registration fee; private agents or service providers may charge for their services.
Plan for biennial renewal.
Facilities required to register must renew between October 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. The current 2026 renewal period ends December 31, 2026.
Renewal and updating are separate system functions. FDA states that a registration not renewed by the deadline is considered expired and removed from the account. Review your identifier, contact details, and authorized access well before the deadline.
Changes to facility information or operations may also require an update or cancellation. Consult FDA’s current instructions to determine the applicable action and timing.
A practical registration checklist.
Use this checklist to organize your preparation. Your selections are saved in this browser when storage is available.
Frequently asked questions.
Does an ingredient or flavor supplier need to register?
Potentially. Food components intended for U.S. consumption can be within scope. Review the facility’s activities, intended use, and exemptions.
Is registration required for packaging-only manufacturers?
A facility making only food-contact substances is excluded from this food facility registration requirement. Its products may be subject to other FDA requirements.
Does updating count as renewal?
No. FDA identifies biennial renewal as a separate action from updating registration information.
Does FDA charge for registration?
FDA does not charge a registration fee. Private registration services may charge their own fees.
Go directly to the source.
- FDA: How to Start a Food Business — scope and exemptions.
- FDA: Food Facility Registration Questions and Answers — ingredients, components, and food-contact substances.
- FDA: Registration Fields — information and U.S. agent details.
- FDA: Biennial Renewal — renewal window and UFI.
- FDA: Registration Fees and Private Services.
- FDA: Submission Requirements.