The short answer
Salt is a simple product with a very specific US label rule: almost every retail salt package needs a statement about iodide.
| Requirement | What it means | Who |
|---|---|---|
| FDA food facility registration | Every facility that makes, packs or holds the food for the US registers with FDA and renews every two years (Oct–Dec of even years) | Your facility |
| U.S. Agent | Foreign facilities name a U.S. Agent on the registration | Your facility |
| FDA-compliant label | English label, ingredients, Nutrition Facts, allergens, net quantity, responsible business | Your facility / brand |
| Iodide statement | “This salt supplies / does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient” after the name (21 CFR 100.155) | Your facility / brand |
| Prior Notice | Filed with FDA before every shipment arrives | Exporter, importer, broker or Orionex |
| FSVP | The US importer verifies your food safety | FSVP importer (your buyer or Orionex) |
The iodide statements (21 CFR 100.155)
| Product | Required statement, right after the name |
|---|---|
| Iodized salt / iodized table salt | “This salt supplies iodide, a necessary nutrient” |
| Salt / table salt without added iodide | “This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient” |
- The statement must be in letters no smaller than the net quantity declaration.
- Exempt: individual serving packs under 1/2 ounce and packages over 2 1/2 pounds — but not the outer carton of a multi-unit retail pack.
- For “iodized salt”, all words of the name must be the same size and prominence, and iodide must be added as cuprous iodide or potassium iodide as FDA permits.
- If you add an anticaking agent, you may describe the effect (e.g. “free flowing”), but not more prominently than the iodide statement — and the agent must be in the ingredient list.
Pink salt and sea salt
- Name: describe it accurately — “Himalayan pink salt”, “sea salt”, “fine grain”.
- Nutrition Facts: sodium is the key nutrient. Small packages may qualify for simplified formats.
- Claims: avoid unproven mineral or health claims — disease claims are not allowed on foods.
- Not food: salt lamps, bath salts and décor are not food and are outside these rules.
Example
A pink salt packer in Pakistan registers its facility with FDA and names a U.S. Agent. Its 500 g grinder jars read “Himalayan Pink Salt — This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient”, in letters as large as the net quantity. Its 5 lb bulk bags are exempt from the statement, and its US importer receives the food safety documents for FSVP.
Step by step: getting your salt into the US
- 1Register your facility with FDAEvery facility that makes, packs or holds the product for the US registers, and renews between October 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. Foreign facilities name a U.S. Agent.
- 2Make the label US-readyEnglish text, the right name, ingredients, the correct facts panel, allergens, net quantity and the responsible business — plus the product-specific points above.
- 3Agree the import roles with your buyerWho is the importer of record, who is the FSVP importer, and which customs broker files the entry. See who does what.
- 4Send your food safety documentsYour FSVP importer needs evidence that hazards are controlled — food safety plan, certificates, test results.
- 5File Prior Notice for every shipmentFDA must receive it before arrival — at least 8 hours by sea, 4 hours by air or rail, and 2 hours by road.
Checklist
- FDA registration and U.S. Agent in place
- Correct iodide statement for each retail package between 1/2 oz and 2 1/2 lb
- Anticaking agents in the ingredient list
- Nutrition Facts (sodium); no unproven health claims
- Prior Notice for every shipment; FSVP documents for your importer
Tell us your product — we send your US requirements in writing, free.
🏢 No U.S. company to act as FSVP importer? Orionex offers an FSVP importer service for food and dietary supplements — from $80 per shipment, with the program and Qualified Individual included.
Frequently asked questions
Does salt need FDA registration?
Yes. Salt for human consumption is a food, so facilities that make, pack or hold it for the US must register with FDA, name a U.S. Agent if foreign, and renew every two years.
What label statement does non-iodized salt need?
Under 21 CFR 100.155, salt or table salt without added iodide must carry “This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient” right after the name. Iodized salt must carry “This salt supplies iodide, a necessary nutrient.” Packages under 1/2 ounce and over 2 1/2 pounds are exempt.
Does Himalayan pink salt need the iodide statement?
Section 100.155 applies to salt and table salt for human food use. Pink salt sold as table salt in retail packages between 1/2 ounce and 2 1/2 pounds should carry the correct iodide statement. Check your exact product and package size.
Can I say pink salt contains 84 minerals or has health benefits?
Be careful. Nutrient and health claims must follow FDA rules, and disease claims are not allowed on foods. Unproven mineral or health claims are a common reason for label problems.
Who files Prior Notice for my shipments?
Anyone with the required information can file it — the exporter, the US importer, the customs broker or a consultant such as Orionex. It must reach FDA before the shipment arrives: at least 8 hours by sea, 4 hours by air or rail and 2 hours by road.
Sources
- FDA — Registration of Food Facilities and Other Submissions
- FDA — Prior Notice of Imported Foods
- FDA — FSVP Final Rule At-A-Glance
- FDA — Import Alerts (search by product, country and firm)
- 21 CFR 100.155 — Salt and iodized salt (Cornell LII)
Dates, fees and regulation numbers checked against FDA and Federal Register sources on November 8, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.