FSVP – DUNS NUMBER (“UNK” TO TERMINATE JULY 2022)
UPDATE (JUNE 14TH, 2021)
No More ‘UNK’ for FDA Entries in July 2022
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told NCBFAA Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) members that use of the term “UNK” (representing “unknown”) will not be allowed for food imports in place of a valid DUNS number for in the Unique Facility Identifier field for the FSVP importer, starting July 2022.
The agency has already started targeted outreach by sending emails to customs brokers and importers who have used UNK. Use of the UNK was officially allowed as a temporary measure in 2017 when the FSVP requirements were first implemented to give importers time to adjust to the new requirements.
The process for obtaining a DUNS number can be lengthy. Customs brokers are encouraged to urge their clients to apply for a DUNS number now through the D & B Website line following:
https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The FDA is sending out notifications to advise the importing public who deal with food importations, that the “UNK” option (versus the actual report of a consignee’s DUNS number) is going to soon expire and importers will be required (in the near future) to supply their consignee / importers actual DUNS number within the entry record that your broker uses when transmitting your FDA data to Customs and to the Food & Drug Administration. Please make sure that you work to obtain your DUNS number, or the DUNS number of your “ship to consignee / buyer” in the U.S.A.
We have attached a copy of the letter currently being distributed by the FDA as an advance advice notice to importers and non-resident importers.
FSVP and DUNS requirement UNKN notification letter
