📦 Product Guides

FDA Rules by Product

Every product has its own FDA trouble spots — Salmonella in spices, histamine in fish, acidified-food filings for sauces, drug claims on skincare. Find your product and see exactly what applies.

Find your product

No guide for that product yet — email us what you make and we’ll tell you which FDA rules apply, or see the U.S. food import requirements.

Food & beverages

SeafoodSeafood HACCP, histamine, drug residuesRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · Importer HACCP · Importer

SpicesSalmonella, import alerts, heavy metalsRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · FSVP · Importer

HoneyAdulteration testing, drug residuesRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · FSVP · Importer

CoffeeFacility registration, decaf solvent limitsRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · FSVP · Importer

TeaPesticide residues, farm exemptionRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · FSVP · Importer

RiceArsenic guidance, pesticides

Canned foodsFCE registration and SID filings

SaucesAcidified food rules

Beverages and juiceJuice HACCP, labels

Dried fruitSulfites, labels, import alerts

Fresh fruits and vegetablesProduce Safety Rule, USDA permits, pesticides

Wine, beer and spiritsFDA registration, TTB labels and permits

Energy drinksBeverage vs supplement, caffeine, labels

Plant-based meat and dairyNaming, allergens, new ingredients

Ice cream and frozen dessertsStandards of identity, Listeria, quotas

Seaweed and seaweed snacksHeavy metals, iodine, allergens

Edible mushroomsFresh, dried and canned; Listeria

Sesame seeds and tahiniAllergen labeling, Salmonella

DatesUSDA grade rules, insects, labels

Coconut productsCoconut water, milk, oil, desiccated

Nuts and seedsAflatoxin, allergens, Salmonella

Snacks and chipsLabels, allergens, serving sizes

Confectionery, chocolate and gummiesColors, lead, Red No. 3

Fruit pulp and puréeAcidified food rules, FCE/SID

SaltHimalayan pink salt, sea salt, iodized salt

Superfood powdersMoringa, matcha, protein: food or supplement?

Olive oilFraud alert 99-47, grades, labels

Chocolate and cocoaStandards of identity, allergens, heavy metals

Cheese and dairyRaw-milk 60-day rule, Listeria, standards

Baby food and infant formulaLead action levels, formula notification

Bottled and mineral waterBottling rules, mineral and spring names

Kombucha and fermented drinksThe 0.5% alcohol line, labels

Pet food and treatsAnimal food rules, Salmonella, USDA permits

Dietary supplements

Supplement manufacturerscGMP, NDI notifications, registrationRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Prior Notice · FSVP · Importer

Supplement labelingStructure/function claims, DSHEA rules

Ayurvedic and herbal productsClaims, heavy metals, FSVP

Protein powders and sports nutritionSupplement vs food, labels, contaminants

Collagen and probioticsSources, CFU labeling, claims

CBD and hemp productsWhat FDA allows, the Dec 2026 hemp changes

Cosmetics and OTC products

Cosmetics — MoCRA overviewFacility registration, product listing, U.S. AgentRequirements · Import guide · Labels · Import screening · Responsible Person · Importer

SoapTrue soap vs cosmetic vs drug

ShampooAnti-dandruff claims make it a drug

SkincareAnti-aging claims

SunscreenAn OTC drug in the U.S.

Hair dyeCaution statement, patch test, colors

Makeup colorsApproved colors, eye area, batch certification

Perfume and fragranceLabels, essential oils, allergens

Nail productsPolish, gels, glue, salon-only

Toothpaste and oral careCosmetic, drug or both?

Deodorant vs antiperspirantCosmetic or OTC drug?

Skin whitening and anti-agingWhen a cosmetic becomes a drug

Cosmetic product listingWhat to list and when

Cosmetic labelsIngredients, claims, U.S. contact

Do I need MoCRA? (free checker)Check your exemption in a minute

Hand sanitizer (OTC drug)Drug registration, NDC, methanol testing

Medical devices

Medical device registrationEstablishment registration, listing, U.S. Agent

510(k) processTimeline, costs, what to expect

UDI and GUDIDDevice identifiers and the GUDID database

ISO 15223-1 symbolsWhich label symbols FDA allows

Gloves, masks and PPEExam gloves need 510(k), medical vs general use

Contact lensesEven colored zero-power lenses are devices

Rules for all food products

Food label requirementsThe complete U.S. label checklist

Red No. 3 banChange before January 15, 2027

GRAS notificationNew ingredients and GRAS

HACCP certificationDoes FDA require it?

PCQIWho writes your food safety plan

GFSI certificates and FSVPAre BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF enough?

FDA import alertsRed Lists, Green Lists, removal

Form FDA 3942aQualified facility attestation

Food packaging and kitchenwareCeramics and lead, plastics, coatings

Looking by country instead?

Our country guides cover the specific FDA risks for exporters in 70+ countries — from India and China to Mexico and the EU.

Country guides →Prices