FDA to begin ‘Cracking Down’ on the FSVP ‘UNK’ Declaration

The National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has learned, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin enforcement on the use of ‘UNK’ (unknown) in the FSVP information in lieu if the DUNS number for the U.S. party.  The FDA has advised that they receive approximately 930,000 ‘UNK’ declarations per month.  Their current stance of “Educate and Regulate” on this topic will end this year.

Please advise your buyers that importers of food products need to have a DUNS number assigned for their business.  The DUNS number, assigned and managed by Dun & Bradstreet, is available free of charge to importers.  It can be obtained by contacting D&B by phone at 866.705.5711, via email at govt@dnb.com, by visiting D&B’s Website, or fdadunslookup.com.