2026 renewal period
FDA's user guide states the 2026 renewal period as October 1, 2026, 12:01 AM through December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM. Renewal is required in October–December of every even-numbered year.
Japan is ahead of U.S. time. We recommend completing renewal well before the deadline rather than at the end of December.
What happens if you do not renew
According to FDA, a registration that is not renewed by 11:59 PM on December 31 of the even-numbered year is considered expired and is removed from your account.
Checklist before renewing
Review the following against your current situation before you start:
- Facility name and address match your current facility
- Unique Facility Identifier (UFI): FDA requires a UFI it recognizes as acceptable and accepts the DUNS number. Make sure the name and address on your DUNS record match the facility
- U.S. Agent (foreign facilities): your U.S. Agent is still in place and their contact details are current
- Food product categories: they match what the facility currently handles
- Login details for your FDA account (FDA Industry Systems) are managed securely within your company
Renewal steps (overview)
Renewal is done online in FDA's food facility registration system. FDA's user guide describes the flow as follows (screen names may change; check the latest FDA user guide):
- Log in to FDA Industry Systems and open Food Facility Registration
- Select Biennial Registration Renewal from the main menu; registrations available for renewal are listed
- Select the registration number and review the content (only sections with an Edit button can be changed)
- Make the necessary updates, then submit to complete the renewal
U.S. Agent and DUNS can cause delays
For foreign facilities, FDA does not confirm a registration until the designated U.S. Agent confirms that they agree to serve. FDA's U.S. Agent Voluntary Identification System (VIS) helps speed this up when the facility name and address match what the agent identified.
Mismatches between the registration and your DUNS record or U.S. Agent information can slow things down, so confirm them early.
No FDA fee, no certificate
FDA does not charge a fee for food facility registration, and you are not required to use a third-party business; you can register and renew directly with FDA. FDA does not issue registration certificates and does not recognize certificates issued by private businesses.
Protect your registration information
In July 2026, FDA advised businesses to register only when required and to protect their registration information. Key points:
- Never share the username or password for FDA's registration systems
- FDA does not require you to share your registration number with third parties
- If a third party obtains your registration number and PIN, they may be able to link it to their own account and view, change or cancel your registration
- If you shared your number and/or PIN in error, FDA suggests considering cancelling and re-registering, and reporting suspected misuse to FDA
- Be careful with unsolicited emails or calls about registration renewal
Frequently asked questions
What if we miss the renewal deadline?
FDA states that registrations not renewed by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2026 are considered expired and removed from the account. Please confirm next steps with FDA.
Is there a fee to renew?
FDA does not charge a fee for registration. You can renew directly with FDA without using a third party. Fees charged by private companies (including ours) are for administrative support only.
Will we receive a registration certificate after renewal?
No. FDA does not issue certificates of registration and does not recognize certificates issued by private businesses.
A company asked for our registration number and PIN. Should we provide them?
FDA says it does not require you to share your registration number with third parties, and that you should never share your system username or password. Shared information can be misused to view, change or cancel your registration.
Can we update our registration during the renewal period?
According to FDA's user guide, during the renewal period the Update button is not shown until the registration is renewed. Editable sections can be changed as part of the renewal.
The address on our DUNS record is different. What should we do?
FDA requires an acceptable UFI (such as a DUNS number), and U.S. Agent verification is faster when name and address match. Update your DUNS record with Dun & Bradstreet if needed.
FDA sources
- FDA – Food Facility Registration User Guide: Biennial Registration Renewal (opens in a new tab)
- FDA – Registration fees and private certificates (opens in a new tab)
- FDA – U.S. Agent Voluntary Identification System (VIS) guidance (opens in a new tab)
- FDA – Advice on protecting food facility registration information (July 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Dun & Bradstreet – Get a D-U-N-S Number (opens in a new tab)
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may change; please confirm current requirements with FDA. We are not affiliated with FDA.