Tools for Shipping


Prepare Shipping Documents


Firstly, food shipper and all facilities related to food are required to obtain an 12 digit registration number through the FDA website www.access.fda.gov.

They include facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the US.

Exempt facilities are private residence of individuals, non-bottled water drinking water collection and distribution establishments and structures, transport vehicles that hold food only in the usual course of their business as carriers, farms, restaurants, retail food establishments, nonprofit food establishments, fishing vessels, faculties regulated exclusively and throughout the entire facility of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

When you ship food to the U.S. you will need the following documents:

  1. International Air Waybill
  2. Commercial Invoice
  3. Prior notice confirmation number* (PNC#)
    FedEx will not accept the food shipment without PNC#
  4. Copy of prior confirmation record (print out of PNC#)

    If the food shipment / product is for personal use, or personal gift (up to US$100 in declared value), PNC# is not required. However, shipper and recipient must be individual person instead of company.
    1. International Air Waybill
    2. Commercial Invoice

*Note:
Food shippers need to notify US FDA of the arrival 4 hours prior to the flight landing into the US for every food shipment. For the prior notification, the online site is prepared by FDA. Notice System Interface (PNSI) www.access.fda.gov.

Shipper must obtain Prior Notice Confirmation number (a 12 digit number - PNC# ) before tendering the shipment to FedEx. For PNSI access purposes, the shipper also needs to register for an Account ID and password on this site.