Do UK food companies need FDA registration?
Yes. Under U.S. law, every facility that manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for people or animals in the United States must be registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This applies to facilities in the United Kingdom exactly as it does to U.S. facilities. Typical UK products we register include biscuits, tea, confectionery, sauces and condiments, cheese, spirits and other drinks, and supplements.
Your food business registration with your local authority or the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is still needed at home, but it does not replace FDA registration. Without a valid FDA registration, your shipments can be held at the U.S. port and your importer cannot file Prior Notice correctly.
What you need
- The facility's legal name and exact physical address
- A D-U-N-S number for that address. It is free from Dun & Bradstreet but can take several weeks, so request it early.
- An emergency contact phone answered 24 hours a day
- A list of the foods made, packed or stored at the facility
Selling spirits, beer or wine?
Facilities that make alcoholic drinks must register with FDA too. Separately, your U.S. importer needs label approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). That part is handled by the importer, not by FDA.
U.S. labels are different
UK nutrition labels do not meet the U.S. Nutrition Facts format, and allergen rules differ: the U.S. list of major allergens does not include celery, mustard or lupin, and U.S. labels must name the specific tree nut, fish or shellfish. Products sold in U.S. stores usually need a U.S. version of the label. See our label reviews.
UK cosmetics
A UK SCPN notification does not cover the U.S. Cosmetics sold in the U.S. need MoCRA facility registration and product listing, and U.S. labels must show net quantity in both U.S. and metric units. See our MoCRA registration service ($369 a year with U.S. Agent). Before you order, see who must register, how product listing works and U.S. label rules. Products with SPF are regulated as drugs in the U.S. (cosmetic or drug?).
How Regovant helps
- Order online and pay by card or PayPal in U.S. dollars. $269 per facility per year.
- Send your details through one short registration form.
- We check and file. We check your D-U-N-S details, file with FDA and act as your U.S. Agent.
- You receive your FDA registration number and a Regovant certificate of registration your buyers can verify.
Food facility registrations are renewed between October 1 and December 31 of every even-numbered year. We email you before each renewal. See the 2026 renewal guide or our step-by-step registration guide.
Questions
We are registered with our local council. Is that enough for the U.S.?
No. UK registration covers the UK. Each facility that makes, packs or stores food for the U.S. must also be registered with the U.S. FDA.
Do UK facilities need a U.S. Agent?
Yes. Every food facility outside the U.S. must name a U.S. Agent located in the United States. It is included in our $269 price.
We only sell to U.S. customers through our website. Do we need to register?
Yes, if your facility makes, packs or stores the food you ship to U.S. customers. Small parcels can also be stopped at the border if Prior Notice and registration are missing.
Registering from another country? See FDA registration by country.