Pet food, treats, animal-food ingredients and livestock feed can be subject to FDA food rules. Registration is one part of the preparation: the facility, product, U.S. importer and ingredients each need appropriate checks. This original guide was published and its sources reviewed on 5 October 2026 by FDABridge, an independent professional service provider. Registration is not FDA approval of a facility or product and does not guarantee import release.
Which animal-food facilities must register?
Domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture/process, pack or hold food for animal consumption in the United States generally need food facility registration, unless an exemption applies. The owner, operator or agent in charge is responsible and may authorize an individual to submit. A foreign facility's U.S. Agent may submit, but that is not automatically the agent's duty. FDA explains these roles in its animal-food registration FAQ: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-foods-feeds/animal-food-facility-registration-and-qualified-facility-attestation-frequently-asked-questions
Assess exemptions against the actual activities and definitions in 21 CFR 1.226. They include qualifying farms, retail food establishments, restaurants, certain fishing vessels, qualifying nonprofit food establishments and facilities exclusively regulated throughout by USDA under the specified meat, poultry or egg statutes. A foreign facility can be exempt when its food undergoes further manufacturing/processing at another foreign facility; mere relabeling or similarly minimal work does not qualify. A small pet-food manufacturer is not exempt simply because it is small, and using meat ingredients does not itself establish exclusive USDA regulation. Record the exemption relied on and supporting facts. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subpart-H/section-1.226
FFR number, DUNS/UFI and FEI are different identifiers
The food facility registration (FFR) number identifies the registration record. The accepted unique facility identifier (UFI) identifies the facility and helps FDA verify its address; currently FDA accepts DUNS for food registration. Check that the DUNS facility name/address matches the registration. FEI is a different FDA establishment identifier, not a replacement for the accepted food UFI or proof of food renewal. FDA did not universally replace DUNS with FEI. Food registration records are confidential; a public FEI lookup is not a food-registration checker. FDA's current renewal reminder: https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-reminds-food-facilities-biennial-renewal-requirements . FDA explains record confidentiality here: https://www.fda.gov/industry/importing-fda-regulated-products/importing-human-foods
For preparation, use our food-specific DUNS/UFI guide: https://fdabridge.com/blog/what-is-a-duns-number-and-why-food-exporters-need-one-before-fda-registration . Keep legitimate registration-number use by an authorized Prior Notice filer separate from login credentials. Do not put passwords or PINs on shipping paperwork.
Foreign facility U.S. Agent and authorized account access
A foreign registering facility must designate a U.S. Agent and complete the applicable agent verification. This FDA contact role is distinct from the customs broker and FSVP importer; one appointment does not automatically establish the others. Confirm who is authorized to prepare, submit and review the renewal. Each individual should use their own FDA Industry Systems account. Never share account passwords, including with FDABridge. Do not send PINs in an enquiry. If access or PIN details are missing, follow FDA's official recovery process rather than creating a duplicate registration or assuming cancellation is required. FDA access recovery: https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/questions-regarding-whether-food-facilities-are-required-pay-registration-fees-and-private . Our US Agent guide: https://fdabridge.com/blog/what-is-a-us-fda-agent-and-why-every-foreign-food-facility-must-have-one
2026 animal-food renewal: October 1–December 31
Required facilities must renew in the 2026 biennial period, October 1 through December 31. Registration or an update before October 1, 2026 does not replace renewal during that period. Submit electronically through FDA Industry Systems unless FDA granted a mail/fax waiver. FDA charges no food registration or renewal fee and considers an unrenewed registration expired after the deadline. Annual paid U.S. Agent coverage is a separate commercial arrangement. Follow the existing detailed renewal guide: https://fdabridge.com/blog/fda-food-facility-registration-renewal-2026 . Primary guidance: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-foods-feeds/animal-food-facility-registration-and-qualified-facility-attestation-frequently-asked-questions
A practical 2026 renewal worksheet
Use the following fields for each facility. Record the responsible person, outstanding item and evidence location; keep credentials out of the worksheet. FDA's renewal procedure and record requirements are the starting point: https://www.fda.gov/food/online-registration-food-facilities/food-facility-registration-user-guide-biennial-registration-renewal
- Applicability — Facility: ____; activities and animal-food categories: ____; registration required or documented exemption: ____; decision owner: ____. Check qualified-facility status separately; it is not a registration exemption.
- Existing records — Registration number and current status: ____; registered legal name, facility address and DUNS/UFI match: ____; current owner/operator and change-of-ownership history: ____. Resolve mismatches against the actual record.
- Authorized access — Responsible submitter: ____; authority confirmed by: ____; own FDA account linked to the record: ____; recovery issue and official support reference, if needed: ____. Do not record or share passwords. Access recovery is distinct from cancellation/re-registration.
- Facility details — Confirm contacts, owner/operator, emergency contact, activities, product categories and other required fields: ____; supporting records checked by: ____; corrections needed: ____. An ordinary update is not evidence of biennial renewal.
- U.S. Agent — For a foreign facility, agent identity/contact details: ____; agent agreement and required verification confirmed: ____; person following up: ____. Check commercial coverage separately from the FDA submission.
- Renewal submission — Review completed by: ____; renewal submitted within October 1–December 31, 2026: ____; submission reference/status: ____; unresolved FDA validation or confirmation items and owner: ____. Record submission and completion separately.
- Completion evidence — Save the FDA renewal confirmation/completed status, submitted information, date and responsible person's review in the controlled facility file: ____; evidence location: ____. If an animal-food qualified-facility attestation is required, record its separate submission and confirmation below. A service receipt is not FDA completion evidence.
Qualified-facility attestation: Form FDA 3942b
If the animal-food facility qualifies under part 507, document the determination using the applicable criteria, including current inflation-adjusted thresholds and relevant business/affiliate records. Qualified status provides modified preventive-controls requirements, not a general exemption from registration or CGMPs. Applicable animal-food attestations use Form FDA 3942b, not the human-food Form 3942a. Renew the food registration first so it is valid, then submit the separate attestation during the biennial period through the Qualified Facility Attestation Module, or follow FDA's current manual-submission instructions. Worksheet: qualification basis/records ____; reviewer ____; 3942b submission date/reference ____; retained confirmation ____. https://www.fda.gov/food/qualified-facility-attestation/instructions-submitting-qualified-facility-attestation https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-reminds-food-facilities-biennial-renewal-requirements
Safety controls depend on the product and activities
Part 507 generally applies to registering facilities, with specific exemptions/modified requirements. Assess CGMPs, hazard analysis, preventive and supply-chain controls. Dry kibble, raw/frozen products, treats and livestock feed have different hazards; low moisture or freezing is not evidence of exemption. A qualified facility must meet applicable CGMPs and modified requirements. Medicated feeds can involve additional licensing/drug requirements. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-foods-feeds/how-do-i-start-animal-food-business
Not every wet food requires Food Canning Establishment (FCE) registration and scheduled process filings (SID). FDA identifies thermally processed low-acid animal food in hermetically sealed containers as subject to LACF requirements; pouches and trays can qualify as well as cans. For covered products, register the canning establishment and file the required scheduled processes, in addition to FFR. Assess formulation, process, packaging and storage with a competent processing authority. FDA states that LACF requirements cover human and animal food, whereas the acidified-food requirements cover human food only. Refrigerated/raw wet products still need the applicable safety controls. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-foods-feeds/how-do-i-start-animal-food-business
Labels, ingredients and destination-state checks
Check federal animal-food labeling and ingredient legality, then the laws of each destination state. AAFCO publishes model guidance; it is not a federal product-approval agency, and state adoption varies. For pet food, review product/species identification, net quantity, ingredient declaration, responsible business details and applicable guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy, feeding and calorie statements. A treat should not claim to be a complete diet without substantiation. Assess disease/treatment claims separately because they can implicate animal-drug rules. Do not substitute a generic nutrient table for a product-specific review. Check state feed/pet-food licensing, product registration and label requirements before sale. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/reading-labels/
Shipment roles: Prior Notice, FSVP and APHIS
Arrange applicable Prior Notice before the animal-food shipment arrives and confirm the filer has accurate manufacturer, product and entry information. Prior Notice is a shipment filing, not facility renewal or permission to market. FDA's animal-product import guidance identifies the applicable registration, labeling and product-specific checks: https://www.fda.gov/industry/importing-fda-regulated-products/importing-animal-and-veterinary-products
Identify the responsible FSVP importer: normally the U.S. owner or consignee at entry; if none exists, a U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner/consignee must have the required signed consent. This is not automatically the foreign facility's registration U.S. Agent or its broker. Determine applicable supplier-verification duties and documented exemptions/modified requirements; a small supplier or LACF product does not necessarily remove every FSVP duty. Facility registration alone does not establish an FSVP. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-foreign-supplier-verification-programs-fsvp-importers-food-humans-and-animals
For meat, dairy, egg or other animal-origin ingredients, check APHIS Veterinary Services requirements for the species, source country, disease status, processing and intended use before shipping. Use the VS Permitting Assistant to determine whether a permit is required and which certificates or supporting conditions apply; some products do not need a permit, but port checks still apply. Plant-origin materials can have separate APHIS requirements. FDA registration does not replace these checks. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-product-import
Next steps and professional service scope
Use the corrected food checklist and renewal guide to assemble records: https://fdabridge.com/checklists https://fdabridge.com/checklists/food.pdf https://fdabridge.com/blog/fda-food-facility-registration-renewal-2026 . For questions about registration/renewal assistance or U.S. Agent coverage, review the existing service and request a defined scope: https://fdabridge.com/food-facility-registration https://fdabridge.com/contact . FDA food registration and renewal have no government fee. FDABridge's professional charges and annual coverage are separate; confirm the quoted scope and terms. Do not assume registration assistance includes animal-food safety plans, FSVP, state registrations or APHIS permits. Assistance cannot guarantee approval, processing time or border release. For an FDA notice, use the corrected notice-response guide: https://fdabridge.com/blog/fda-import-detention-and-refusal-why-shipments-get-held-and-how-to-prevent-it