Every even-numbered year, food facilities that are required to register with the FDA, must renew their registrations during the period beginning October 1 and ending December 31. Failure to renew a registration by 11:59PM on December 31, 2022 will result in a different kind of excitement New Year’s Eve – your registration will be considered expired and removed from your account!
Additionally, all facilities are required to include a unique facility identifier (UFI) recognized as acceptable to the FDA. FDA recognizes the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as an acceptable UFI. DUNS numbers can be obtained or verified visiting D&B’s website.
To address stakeholder concerns with obtaining a DUNS number in a timely manner, FDA has released guidance, Enforcement Policy for Providing an Acceptable Unique Facility Identifier (UFI) for the 2020 Food Facility Registration Biennial Renewal Period, if a Company is not able to obtain a DUNS prior to the end of the renewal period. The guidance advises that FDA allows registrants to enter “Pending” in the UFI field of their registration if they do not anticipate their UFI in time. Users will then have 90 days to obtain and submit a DUNS number and will receive reminders via email.
So as adrenaline-rushing as it is to wait until the eleventh hour to renew your food facility registration, register on time and early so you can focus on ringing in the New Year!
