How to export to the United States: packaging and certifications

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If your company has decided  to export  its  agri-food  products to the United States , you should know that , in that country, food is among the most controversial categories. Exporting  food to  the United States  has become an even more critical issue in recent months  due to  US tariff restrictions , which went into effect in  October 2019  driven  by the Trump administration. Although these tariffs have been temporarily suspended, barriers to exporting to the United States have long been a sensitive issue that any company intending to  export to the United States  must pay attention to. In particular,  there are  two elements that, if underestimated, can endanger the trade of  Made  in  Spain products : Certifications Packaging Export to the United States: FDA certification All companies that  manufacture,  handle or package food intended for consumption in the United States must register with the  Food  and  Drug Administration  (FDA) , the body that gives  permission to export to the United States . In addition, they must notify each sale made to the United States.

The FDA thus ensures that foods intended for American Phone Number List consumption are safe, wholesome, hygienic, and properly labeled. That is why it is necessary for Spanish companies that intend to export food to the United States to request it from the FDA, which will provide them with an FDA registration number. This registration number is granted to a production establishment of those companies that decide to export to the United States from Spain, in our case. Those companies that have more than one establishment must obtain as many registration numbers as they have establishments. The FDA requires having a reference person based or domiciled in the United States: the FDA agent. The person entrusted with this responsibility does not have decision-making power, but is a formal figure to whom the FDA can deliver possible communications intended for the company exporting food products. The FDA registration is renewed every two years, at which time possible variations in the information provided during the first registration must be reported.



Export to the United States The FDA is also the body in charge of dictating the rules for exporting to the United States related to packaging and labeling. For the product to be suitable for  export to the United States , the  packaging  must meet certain characteristics. Likewise, the labels of food products to be  exported to the United States  must comply with FDA regulations regarding their content and form. Nutritional values, ingredients, allergens, colorings and  preservatives must be reformulated following the  requirements for exporting to the United States . The other federal agency that regulates the sale of food products in the United States is the  FTC (Federal  Trade Commission ) ,  whose  mission is to ensure correct commercial and advertising communication in  the United States . In addition to offering truthful and non-misleading information, it is necessary for the marketing department to pay attention to the photos or designs on the label of the product that is going to be  exported to the United States . Be careful not to write phrases and statements such as “ all  natural”, “no GMO”, “no  sugar added ” and similar on the label, because they can lead the company to a problem with legal claims.