What evaluation must be done of the risk posed by an imported food and a supplier’s performance for Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) compliance?

For Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) compliance, an importer must perform a risk evaluation of each imported food and the foreign supplier’s performance. This evaluation must consider:

• The hazard analysis for the food, including known or reasonably foreseeable biological, chemical, and physical hazards;
• The entity controlling or significantly minimizing the hazards (such as the foreign supplier or the supplier’s raw material or ingredient supplier);
• The foreign supplier’s food safety procedures, processes, and practices;
• Applicable FDA food safety regulations and information on the foreign supplier’s compliance history;
• The foreign supplier’s food safety performance, including responsiveness in correcting past problems; and
• Other relevant factors, as appropriate, such as storage, transportation, and distribution practices.

An importer may rely on another qualified entity (other than the foreign supplier) to conduct this evaluation, provided the importer reviews and assesses the resulting documentation and remains responsible for FSVP compliance.