In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a major change to its digital service offerings with the introduction of the U.S. Agent Voluntary Identification System (VIS) for food facilities. This online platform allows agents to independently identify the facilities they represent, streamlining registration and verification for both domestic and foreign food facilities.
The VIS plays a crucial role in expediting FDA inspection processes. Companies and U.S. Agents utilizing this system can significantly improve collaboration between the private sector and regulators — as well as help support further digitalization and convenience in the food regulatory process.
Food facilities in the U.S. and abroad must register with the FDA in order to operate in compliance with federal law, and foreign facilities must have a U.S. Agent for communication with the FDA, either through a third party or among their U.S.-based staff. The VIS, alongside the FDA's Food Facility Registration Module (FFRM), streamlines the U.S. Agent verification process.
VIS is essentially an online portal that allows U.S. Agents to independently identify the facilities they represent and receive identification numbers from the FDA. By leveraging VIS, foreign food facilities can also opt to provide their U.S. Agent's identification number during registration, allowing them to receive their food facility registration number faster and align with FDA identification requirements more efficiently.
FDA food facility registration is required for any food and beverage businesses operating in the U.S. Expediting the U.S. Agent identification process helps companies:
The VIS is a major step forward for the FDA’s Industry Systems interface, improving collaboration between the agency and industry stakeholders for a more robust regulatory and food safety system.
Once labor intensive and requiring a long verification process, the new VIS consolidates the entire U.S. Agent registration workflow into a simple and easy-to-use online portal available through the food facility registration module. The platform allows users to fill out a U.S. Agent profile manually or link to an already-created profile in the account.
To create a U.S. Agent I.D.:
Once registered, the platform will provide a U.S. Agent ID and PIN number. Users can then assign the U.S. Agent profile to a food facility profile in the system. This same portal also allows users to make updates to a U.S. Agent profile, register foreign facilities, and more.
The VIS represents a major breakthrough in streamlining the U.S. Agent registration process, freeing up significant time for food and beverage companies, as well as resources for the FDA. While the new system does make initial compliance easier and more efficient, registration is just one of the hundreds of food safety regulations to consider. Getting expert help with compliance is critical to succeeding in today’s market.
AIB International has over 100 years of experience training food facility staff, supporting food safety certifications, and even helping companies prepare for FDA inspections. Have a challenge in your facility you’re trying to overcome? Assign an expert from AIB International for help, today.