How to Get a DUNS Number for FDA Registration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Food Exporters

The DUNS number — issued by Dun & Bradstreet — is the prerequisite for FDA food facility registration. The FDA requires it as the Unique Facility Identifier in the registration system, and the registration cannot be completed without it. For foreign food manufacturers who have never obtained a DUNS number before, the process is straightforward but has specific requirements and timing considerations that affect when the FDA registration can be started. Here is the exact process.

What information is needed before applying

Before starting the DUNS application, the facility should have the following information ready: the complete legal name of the business entity as it appears on official corporate registration documents, the physical street address of the specific facility (not a PO Box or the parent company headquarters if those differ from the facility's actual location), the primary phone number for the facility, the name of the owner or senior manager, the primary business activity or industry description, and the estimated number of employees at the facility. The name and address entered during the DUNS application are the name and address that will appear in the D&B database, and those must match the name and address that will be used on the FDA registration form exactly.

Where and how to apply

Dun & Bradstreet manages DUNS number applications through their website. The standard DUNS application process is free of charge when applied for directly through D&B's official application portal. During the application, the applicant provides the business information described above. D&B verifies the information and creates the business record. Standard processing takes five to ten business days from submission. D&B also offers an accelerated option — typically within one to two business days — for applicants who need the number sooner. The DUNS number is issued when the record is created and verified; no physical document or certificate is sent. The number is accessible through the D&B system once processing is complete.

Verifying an existing DUNS number

Some foreign food manufacturers discover that a DUNS number already exists for their company or facility — obtained previously for credit, banking, or export documentation purposes. Before using an existing DUNS number for FDA registration, the associated D&B record should be checked to verify that the legal name and physical address in the record exactly match what will be used on the FDA registration form. If there are discrepancies, D&B allows registered companies to update their records through their website. Allow five to ten business days for corrections to propagate through the system before submitting the FDA registration, as the FDA validates DUNS information at the time of submission.

Timing: when to start the FDA registration after getting the DUNS

A common mistake is starting the FDA food facility registration immediately after the DUNS application is submitted, before the processing is complete. The FDA's FURLS system validates the DUNS number against the D&B database in real time. A DUNS number that exists in D&B's internal system but has not yet been fully propagated to their external database will fail this validation. The correct timing is to wait for D&B to confirm that the DUNS number is active and retrievable, then allow an additional few days before submitting the FDA registration. If the DUNS application shows an expected completion date, start the FDA registration the week after that date.

How FDABridge manages the DUNS process for clients

FDABridge handles DUNS verification, acquisition, and correction as part of our food facility registration service. We check existing DUNS records for accuracy, coordinate corrections with D&B when needed, and time the FDA registration submission to avoid validation failures. Visit fdabridge.com/food for our food registration services or fdabridge.com/apply/food to get started.