Food facility registration
FDA Food Facility Registration Renewal 2026
The biennial renewal window opens October 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM and closes December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Every facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for consumption in the United States must renew inside that window. There is no FDA fee, and there is no grace period afterward.
When is the 2026 renewal period?
FDA's biennial registration renewal period runs from October 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM through December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Renewals cannot be submitted before the window opens.
Food facility registrations renew in even-numbered years only: 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028, and so on. This is a fixed calendar, not a rolling two-year period from your registration date. A facility that registered for the first time in early 2026 still renews during this window, the same as one registered in 2019.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Window opens | October 1, 2026, 12:01 AM |
| Window closes | December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM |
| FDA fee | None. FDA charges nothing for registration, renewal, or updates |
| Who must renew | Domestic and foreign facilities required to register under Section 415 of the FD&C Act, including animal food facilities |
| How it is submitted | Electronically through FDA Industry Systems, unless you hold a paper waiver |
| Next window after this | October 1 to December 31, 2028 |
What happens if you miss the deadline
A registration not renewed by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2026 is considered expired and is removed from your FDA Industry Systems account. There is no late renewal and no extension.
The practical consequence is that your facility no longer holds a valid registration, which is a prerequisite for food entering the United States. Shipments arriving without one are subject to detention at the port. Recovering from an expired registration means submitting a registration again rather than renewing, which takes longer and can interrupt shipments already in transit.
Updating is not renewing. These are two different functions in the FDA system, and completing one does not complete the other. During the renewal period, FDA removes the Update button from the Food Facility Registration Module menu until the registration has been renewed. If you have made changes to your registration this year, those updates do not count as your biennial renewal.
Check your DUNS number before October
This is the single most common reason a renewal does not go through.
Every registration must include a Unique Facility Identifier. FDA recognizes the DUNS number, issued by Dun & Bradstreet, as the only acceptable UFI. FDA will not confirm a biennial renewal or assign a registration number without a valid DUNS number on the submission.
FDA does not simply check that a DUNS number exists. It verifies that the facility name and physical address associated with that DUNS number match the name and address in your registration. A mismatch stops the renewal. If your UFI is pending verification, you have 90 days to provide a valid, accurate DUNS number.
Common DUNS problems
- Using your US Agent or shipper's information. The DUNS record must carry your facility's own physical address in its home country. Your US Agent's details are collected separately during registration.
- Using your headquarters address. Each physical location needs its own DUNS number. A company with three plants needs three.
- Name and address variations. The legal name and address in your DUNS record and your registration must match exactly. Abbreviations, suite numbers, and punctuation all count.
A DUNS number is free, and requests can take around 45 days to process. Foreign facilities often wait longer because of additional verification. Corrections that take a few days in August can take considerably longer once renewal season is underway and D&B volume rises.
You can look up, create, or correct a facility DUNS record through the D&B Import Safety Lookup Portal. Compare what you find there against your FDA registration line by line.
Foreign facilities: your US Agent must be current
Every foreign food facility must designate a US Agent, and the registration cannot be completed or maintained without one. The US Agent must be physically located in the United States and available during US business hours, and receives FDA correspondence and inspection notices on your behalf.
Renewal season is the point at which an out-of-date US Agent designation surfaces. If your agent has changed, become unresponsive, or you are simply reviewing the arrangement, handle it before the window opens rather than during it.
Who must renew, and who is exempt
Any facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States must register and renew under Section 415 of the FD&C Act, as amended by FSMA. This includes both foreign and domestic facilities.
Facility types that typically must renew include:
- Dietary supplement and nutraceutical producers
- Beverage companies, including juice, tea, coffee, energy drinks, and bottled water
- Snack food, confectionery, cereal, and breakfast food producers
- Spice, flavoring, and condiment producers
- Frozen food and dairy producers
- Low-acid canned food and acidified food facilities
- Co-packers, contract producers, and private label food companies
- Cold storage warehouses holding food
- Pet food, animal feed, aquaculture feed, and animal supplement producers
Generally exempt from registration, and therefore from renewal:
- Farms growing and harvesting raw agricultural commodities
- Restaurants and retail food establishments
- Nonprofit food establishments
- Fishing vessels not engaged in processing
If you are unsure whether your facility is required to register, resolve that before your next shipment rather than during renewal season.
How the renewal is done
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Verify your DUNS | Confirm the name and address on your DUNS record match your registration exactly. Fix any mismatch before October. |
| 2. Confirm your US Agent | Foreign facilities only. Make sure the designation is current and the agent is reachable. |
| 3. Review facility details | Facility name, address, owner and operator information, trade names, emergency contact, and food product categories. |
| 4. Submit the renewal | Through FDA Industry Systems, selecting the biennial renewal option rather than update. Available from October 1. |
| 5. Confirm it went through | FDA confirms the renewal once the UFI verifies. A pending status means something needs attention. |
How FDAbasics handles your renewal
We track renewal deadlines for every registration we manage and contact clients before the window opens. You do not need to watch the calendar.
| If | Then |
|---|---|
| You are a foreign facility with US Agent service | Biennial renewal is included at no additional cost. We submit the renewal and send you confirmation along with an updated Certificate of Registration. |
| You are a domestic facility | Renewal is $149. We handle the submission inside the window and confirm when it is complete. |
| We are only your US Agent | You can have us manage the registration from here on at no additional cost. Get in touch and we will walk you through the handover. |
Our food facility fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| US Agent services | $299/yr, or $250/yr for two years paid upfront |
| Food facility registration, foreign | Included with US Agent service |
| Food facility registration, domestic | $149/year |
| Biennial registration renewal | Included with US Agent for foreign facilities, $149 for domestic |
| Food and dietary supplement label review | Starting at $299 |
| FCE and SID registration | FCE $199, SID $399 |
| Prior Notice filing | $15 per shipment, three minimum |
| FSVP setup and management | Contact us for pricing |
FDA charges no government fee for food facility registration, renewal, or updates. Anything you pay goes to a service provider, not to FDA.
Other obligations worth checking this season
Renewal is a natural point to confirm the rest of your food compliance is current.
- Changes must be reported within 60 days. If any required registration information changes, the update is due within 60 days, separate from biennial renewal.
- Ceasing operations requires cancellation within 60 days. A facility that stops operating must cancel its registration rather than letting it lapse.
- Prior Notice is required before each food shipment arrives in the United States. File a Prior Notice
- FSVP applies if you import food from foreign suppliers, and requires a written plan per supplier with records kept at least two years. FSVP services or check for gaps
- Labels must meet FDA requirements for Nutrition Facts, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, and claims. Label review
- FCE and SID registration applies to low-acid canned and acidified food facilities. FCE and SID
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to renew my food facility registration?
No. FDA charges nothing for food facility registration, biennial renewal, or updates. Any fee you pay is to a service provider or US Agent, not to FDA.
I updated my registration this year. Do I still need to renew?
Yes. Updating and renewing are separate functions in the FDA system. An update made during the year does not satisfy the biennial renewal requirement. During the renewal window, FDA hides the Update option until the renewal has been submitted.
What happens if I miss December 31?
The registration is considered expired and is removed from your FDA Industry Systems account. There is no late renewal. You would need to submit a registration again, and shipments arriving without a valid registration are subject to detention.
My facility registered for the first time this year. Do I renew now?
Yes. The renewal schedule is tied to the even-year calendar, not to your registration date. A facility registered earlier in 2026 renews during the October to December 2026 window along with everyone else.
Do domestic US facilities have to renew?
Yes. The biennial renewal requirement applies to domestic and foreign facilities alike. Domestic facilities do not need a US Agent and can renew through their own FDA Industry Systems account.
Do pet food and animal feed facilities renew too?
Yes. Facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for animal consumption follow the same registration and renewal requirements as human food facilities, including the October to December even-year window. Foreign animal food facilities also need a US Agent.
Why does FDA need my DUNS number?
FDA requires a Unique Facility Identifier on every registration and currently recognizes DUNS as the only acceptable one. It is used to verify that the address tied to your DUNS record matches the address on your registration. FDA will not confirm a renewal without a valid DUNS number.
How long does it take to get a DUNS number?
A DUNS number is free and typically takes around 45 days. Foreign facilities often wait longer because of additional verification steps. This is why we recommend checking your DUNS record well before October rather than during the renewal window.
Can I renew before October 1?
No. The renewal function is not available until the window opens on October 1. You can, however, verify your DUNS record and confirm your US Agent designation at any time, which is where most delays originate.
Does FDA issue a Certificate of Registration?
No, FDA does not issue one. FDAbasics provides a Certificate of Registration with every completed registration and renewal at no extra charge, which gives you documentation for buyers, importers, and customs brokers.
Last reviewed September 2026. Renewal window dates are from FDA's biennial registration renewal guidance. Registration requirements are set under Section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and 21 CFR 1.230(b).
Let us handle your 2026 renewal
Renewal is included with US Agent service for foreign facilities and $149 for domestic. We track the deadline, verify your DUNS record, and submit inside the window.
Appoint a US Agent Contact us