DUNS Number FAQ for Foreign Food Exporters: Common Questions Before FDA Registration

Facilities subject to FDA food facility registration need an FDA-accepted unique facility identifier. FDA currently recognizes DUNS for this purpose. The practical questions are whether the facility already has a D&B record, whether its details need updating, and whether a new number must be requested. Those are different tasks from submitting or checking the FDA food registration.

Is a DUNS number free to obtain?

D&B's FDA-related Import Safety Portal supports worldwide requests; FDA says the first four numbers may be obtained free through that route. D&B may offer other paid products or expedited options in some routes. FDABridge's $149 acquisition charge pays for professional application assistance and follow-up, not for FDA's food filing or guaranteed acceleration. FDA says a request may take up to 45 days; D&B's general U.S. request route lists up to 30 business days. Confirm the route and current terms for your country rather than applying one timeline to every facility. https://importregistration.dnb.com/

Does a company with multiple facilities need a separate DUNS for each?

DUNS identifies a business at a particular location. Separate physical facilities subject to food registration generally need their own facility-specific UFI and separate FDA registrations. A foreign facility also designates a US Agent in its food registration. Do not infer that each facility must obtain a new FEI as part of the food UFI process; FEI is a separate FDA identifier.

What happens if the DUNS information does not match the FDA registration?

FDA's registration workflow compares the UFI with D&B's facility name and address and may flag a mismatch for review. Check the actual D&B record and correct inaccurate information with D&B before or during the FDA process as appropriate. FDA's field guidance does not establish a universal character-for-character rule or automatic rejection for every formatting difference.

Can the DUNS number expire?

DUNS is a D&B identifier, while the associated business information can change. Review the current D&B record when the facility name, address or ownership changes; ask D&B how to correct or reassign the record in that situation. Check the FDA registration separately, because updating D&B does not update FDA's food registration for you.

Does the DUNS number appear on product labels or shipping documents?

A food DUNS/UFI is not a consumer-label claim or an FDA approval mark. FDA food registration has its own number and status; FEI is a separate FDA establishment identifier. Prior Notice has a separate shipment confirmation. Do not treat D&B lookup or a public FEI result as proof that a food registration is active. Provide identifiers in import filings only where the applicable process calls for them.

How FDABridge handles DUNS for its clients

If a facility lacks a usable DUNS number, review the $149 acquisition assistance at https://fdabridge.com/duns-number . For a correction to an existing D&B record, select the separate $99 DUNS Information Change offer at https://fdabridge.com/food . The $349 food registration offer reviews an existing facility UFI; the $449 Food Starter includes DUNS acquisition, registration and US Agent Year 1. FDA's UFI guidance is at https://www.fda.gov/food/online-registration-food-facilities/food-facility-registration-user-guide-biennial-registration-renewal and its portal fact sheet is at https://www.fda.gov/media/160348/download .