Who has to register
Any foreign facility that manufactures, processes, blends, or packs tea intended for US consumption must register with FDA under the Food Facility Registration requirements, renewed on FDA's shared biennial calendar. This includes growing-region processing plants, blending facilities, and any repacking or relabeling operation in the supply chain — each is treated as a distinct facility if it's a distinct physical location.
Registration identifies who is producing what and where, so FDA can trace a shipment back to its source. It doesn't certify that the facility's food-safety practices meet any particular standard — that's a separate obligation covered by FSVP.
The US Agent
Every foreign-registered tea facility must appoint a US Agent — a person or firm physically located in the United States who acts as FDA's point of contact for that facility. FDA can and does contact the US Agent directly during an inspection or an import alert review, so it needs to be someone who can respond and coordinate on the facility's behalf.
Product codes and entry data
At the time of import, customs entry filings for tea require an FDA product code that correctly identifies the tea type (loose leaf, bagged, extract, blended, matcha) along with the facility's registration number. A mismatch between the product code, the label, and what's declared on the Prior Notice is a common trigger for a hold at port.
Registration ≠ FSVP compliance
Registering a facility with FDA and having a valid FSVP hazard analysis on file for that supplier are two different obligations. A registered facility with no FSVP documentation on the importer's side is still out of compliance — and it's the importer of record FDA holds accountable at the border. See our FSVP requirements for tea guide for what that program needs to cover.
What US importers need on file
- Confirmation the foreign facility is currently registered (registration numbers can lapse on the biennial renewal window)
- A complete FSVP hazard analysis and supplier verification file for each tea supplier
- A named importer of record for entry filing purposes
- Prior Notice filed and confirmed before the shipment arrives
Frequently asked
Do foreign tea processors need FDA facility registration?
Yes — any facility manufacturing, processing, blending, or packing tea for the US market must register and appoint a US Agent.
Does a tea blender need to register separately from the original grower's facility?
Yes, if blending or repacking happens at a distinct physical facility, that facility needs its own registration.