The short answer
Most foods imported into the U.S. are regulated by FDA. But meat, poultry, processed egg products and Siluriformes fish (such as catfish and pangasius/basa) are regulated by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) — with completely different rules. FSIS products can only come from countries FSIS has found equivalent and from plants certified by that country, with an official certificate for every shipment and reinspection on arrival.
The line is often a percentage: a soup with a little chicken can be FDA-regulated, while a soup with more chicken is FSIS-regulated.
Who regulates what
| Product | Agency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beef, pork, lamb, goat (cattle, sheep, swine, goats) | FSIS | Federal Meat Inspection Act |
| Chicken, turkey, duck, goose and other domestic poultry | FSIS | Poultry Products Inspection Act |
| Processed egg products (liquid, frozen, dried eggs) | FSIS | Egg Products Inspection Act |
| Shell eggs | FDA | With USDA AMS involvement for imports |
| Siluriformes fish (catfish, pangasius, basa) | FSIS | Treated like meat for import purposes |
| All other fish and seafood | FDA | Seafood HACCP rules |
| Game meats (bison, deer, rabbit, wild birds…) | FDA | “Non-amenable” species |
| Everything else (produce, grains, snacks, drinks, supplements…) | FDA | FDA registration, Prior Notice, FSVP |
Foods that contain some meat or poultry
FDA’s guidance sets the dividing lines for mixed products:
| Ingredient | FDA if the product has… | FSIS if the product has… |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | 3% or less raw meat, less than 2% cooked meat, or 30% or less fat, tallow or meat extract | More than 3% raw meat, 2% or more cooked meat, or more than 30% fat, tallow or meat extract |
| Poultry | Less than 2% cooked poultry meat, or less than 10% cooked poultry skins, giblets, fat and meat combined | 2% or more cooked poultry meat, or 10% or more of those parts combined |
| Sandwiches | Closed-face sandwiches (unless part of a dinner) | Open-face sandwiches and dinners with a sandwich |
What FSIS imports require
- 1An eligible countryImports must come from a country FSIS has found to have an inspection system equivalent to the U.S. system — for that product type.
- 2A certified plantEach foreign establishment must be certified by its own government to export to the U.S.
- 3An official certificateEvery shipment needs a government export certificate (electronic or paper, in English).
- 4ReinspectionEvery shipment must be presented to FSIS at an official import inspection establishment. CBP release alone is not enough.
- 5FSIS labelsFSIS products need label approval under USDA rules, not FDA’s.
If your country is not eligible for a product, there is no workaround through an agent or importer — the product cannot be imported.
Example: three products from Thailand
A Thai company makes three products. Its shrimp dumplings are FDA-regulated (seafood). Its chicken dumplings with 15% cooked chicken are FSIS-regulated — they can only be exported if Thailand is eligible for that poultry product and the plant is certified. Its chicken-flavored instant noodles with a small amount of chicken extract are likely FDA-regulated, but the seasoning may still face APHIS restrictions.
FDA products: the usual checklist
- FDA food facility registration with a U.S. Agent
- Prior Notice for every shipment
- An FSVP by the U.S. importer
- An FDA-compliant label, and FCE/SID filings for canned or acidified foods
Tell us your product and recipe — we’ll send your requirements in writing. FDA registration with U.S. Agent from $300.
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Frequently asked questions
Who regulates imported catfish and pangasius?
USDA FSIS. Siluriformes fish such as catfish, pangasius and basa are regulated by FSIS, while other fish and seafood are regulated by FDA.
Does a soup with a little chicken need USDA approval?
If it has less than 2% cooked poultry meat (and the other limits are met), it is generally FDA-regulated. With more, it is FSIS-regulated. APHIS animal health rules may still apply to the chicken ingredient.
Who regulates eggs?
Shell eggs are FDA-regulated. Processed egg products — liquid, frozen or dried eggs — are FSIS-regulated.
Can any country export meat to the US?
No. Only countries FSIS has found equivalent for that product, and only from plants certified by the exporting country’s government.
Sources
- FDA — FDA-regulated meats and meat products for human consumption
- USDA FSIS — Guidance for importing meat, poultry and egg products (September 2020)
Jurisdiction rules checked on November 11, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.