



© 2022 Quality Digest. Copyright on content held by Quality Digest or by individual authors. Contact Quality Digest for reprint information.
“Quality Digest" is a trademark owned by Quality Circle Institute, Inc.
Published: 10/08/2018
(ANSI: Washington, D.C.) -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a recognized accreditation body under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), encourages relevant stakeholders to utilize the FDA’s Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) application portal that opened on Oct. 1, 2018. The FDA opened the VQIP application portal early to allow importers to submit their Notice of Intent to Participate and complete their VQIP applications in time for the Fiscal Year 2020 benefit period.
[ad:32114]VQIP is a voluntary fee-based program established under the FSMA that provides expedited review and importation of human and animal foods into the United States for approved applicants who achieve and maintain a high level of control over the safety and security of their supply chains.
Importers can learn more about the program on the VQIP web page or by calling the VQIP Importer’s Help Desk at (301) 796-8745. Importers applying for the Fiscal Year 2020 benefit period may wish to refer to the step-by-step guide as they prepare their applications.
ANSI accreditation supports those seeking FSMA compliance for both the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), which requires importers to verify that the food they import meets U.S. safety standards, and the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP), a fee-based program that will allow for expedited review and importation for those who achieve and maintain a safe and secure supply chain.
Links:
[1] http://www.ansi.org/
[2] https://www.fda.gov/fsma
[3] https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/ImportsExports/Importing/ucm490823.htm?utm_campaign=CFSANCU_VQIP_09192018&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=A91EF43109EDEB0688F47436E8590527&elq=b27403e0df604d6d835995a3eb8fe9af&elqaid=5137&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=4112
[4] https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/ImportsExports/Importing/UCM608130.pdf