FDA Hopes to Begin VQIP Trusted Trader Program for Food Importers in 2017
The Food and Drug Administration now hopes to begin its Voluntary Qualified Importer Program in 2017, according to an agency spokeswoman. The trusted trader program for food importers is held up until FDA creates its system of third-party accreditation bodies, because a condition of VQIP participation will be importing from foreign facilities that have been certified under the third-party accreditation system, she said. FDA is under court order to publish its final rule on third-party accreditation by Oct. 31, 2015 (see 14022124).
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FDA is “currently developing the benefits” for VQIP, but the “main benefit to industry is expedited entry of imported food that is part of the program,” said the spokeswoman. “This means fewer exams and less sampling,” she said. FDA’s top import official, Domenic Veneziano, said in April 2012 that VQIP would have two levels of participation, with the lower level conferring an adjusted risk score that would result in less sampling, and the higher level having the additional benefit of expedited lab analysis (see 12042526). He also said participation in VQIP would be limited to C-TPAT Tier II members. The spokeswoman did not comment on whether or not that's still in the agency's plans, saying FDA is "still working to finalize the guidance."