FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Definition of the FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a US federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary responsibility is to protect public health by regulating various kinds of products.
These include human foods, drugs, biological products like vaccines and blood, medical devices, cosmetics, veterinary drugs, and radiation-emitting products.
Definition of FDA hold
An FDA hold is a customs hold placed on a shipment that’s under review by the FDA.
It can occur if an initial examination suggests that further scrutiny is needed. When an FDA hold is applied, the FDA may take several actions, such as requesting additional information, inspecting the cargo, or detaining the goods.
What products could be stopped for an FDA hold?
These measures are particularly relevant to importers in the UK who are shipping FDA-regulated products to the US. Non-compliance can lead to delays, increased costs, or even a ban on entry for the goods concerned:
- Food items (including those with potential contamination or that do not meet labelling standards)
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Animal feed or veterinary products
- Radiation-emitting products, such as certain types of electronic devices
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