FSVP for US Importers Sourcing Food from Turkey
Under the FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule, the US importer, not the foreign supplier, is responsible for verifying that imported food is produced in line with US safety requirements. Buyers of Turkish dried fruit, nuts, spices and processed food need a practical way to do that.
What FSVP requires
In outline, an importer must analyse the hazards of each food, evaluate the foreign supplier's performance and the risk of the food, approve suppliers, and carry out appropriate verification activities. Activities include onsite audits, sampling and testing, and review of the supplier's food safety records. The importer must keep records of all of this. This is a summary; importers should rely on the FDA rule and guidance for detail.
Where a local partner helps
- Onsite audits of Turkish suppliers by a qualified auditor
- Independent sampling and testing of lots before shipment
- Collection and review of supplier records in Turkish and English
- Follow-up of corrective actions
- Organised documentation the importer can keep in its FSVP records
Products where it matters most
For Turkish exports to the US, hazards that typically drive verification include aflatoxins in nuts and dried figs, Salmonella in spices, nuts and tahini-based products, pathogens in ready-to-eat foods, and undeclared allergens in confectionery and bakery products.
What we do and do not do
We provide audits, sampling, testing coordination and records to support the importer's FSVP. We do not act as the FSVP importer and we do not take over the importer's legal responsibilities.