United States Guide
Importing Into the United States
A foreign producer selling freeze-dried food into the United States faces a set of import obligations: foreign food facility registration where applicable, a U.S. agent, importer responsibilities, prior notice for imported food shipments, the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) where applicable, and labeling. This page is high level only: it deliberately does not create an export-to-U.S. checklist that pretends every product has identical requirements.
Regulatory record
- Regulatory Region
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Last Verified
- Structure reviewed 26 September 2026 — legal specifics not yet independently verified; confirm with the relevant authority
- Official Authority
- FDA (plus CBP for customs, and destination-state rules)
The import obligations, at a high level
Each of these applies where the current rules say it does; none is automatic for every product:
- Foreign food facility registration: Foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for U.S. consumption may need FDA registration, with a U.S. agent. See the FDA facility registration guide.
- U.S. agent: Registered foreign facilities name a U.S. agent under the current FDA rules.
- Importer responsibilities: The U.S. importer carries obligations that may include FSVP and recordkeeping.
- Prior notice: Shipments of imported food require prior notice submitted to FDA before arrival, per the current rules.
- FSVP where applicable: The Foreign Supplier Verification Program requires importers to verify their foreign suppliers meet U.S. food-safety standards, where the current rules apply.
- Labeling: Imported food must meet U.S. labeling requirements on arrival.
No universal export checklist
Every import is product-specific: the obligations that apply depend on the product, the facility, the volume and the current rules. This page will not pretend every product follows one checklist.
Panama producers reading this
Compliance in Panama does not automatically create compliance in the United States. See the cross-border page for the full framing: Selling Panama-Made Freeze-Dried Products in the United States.
Official sources
Regulatory disclaimer
Regulatory requirements change and may depend on product, facility, sales channel, and location. This resource is educational and should be verified with the relevant government authority before commercial operation.
Common questions
Does every foreign facility need FDA registration?
Facilities covered by the current definitions need registration unless an exemption applies; not every facility is covered. Verify with the current FDA eligibility rules.
Is FSVP my job or my importer's?
FSVP obligations sit with the U.S. importer where the current rules apply. Confirm who carries which obligation in your arrangement.