What the Foreign Supplier Verification Program actually checks for green and roasted coffee.
The Foreign Supplier Verification Program places the legal responsibility on the U.S. importer of record — not the foreign exporter — to verify that a supplier's coffee is produced under conditions that meet U.S. food safety standards. This verification has to happen before the first shipment, and be maintained on an ongoing basis after that.
In practice, the exporter provides the documentation the importer needs — so even though the legal obligation sits with the U.S. side, a coffee exporter who can't produce clean records becomes a liability their buyer won't take on.
FSVP verification isn't generic — it's built around the hazards specific to a product. For coffee, verification typically centers on:
Green coffee above safe moisture thresholds is prone to mold growth during transit and storage.
A mycotoxin risk tied to poor drying or storage at origin — a known coffee-specific hazard FDA reviewers watch for.
Storage conditions at the dry mill or warehouse, including pest management records.
A documented food safety plan from the supplier, reviewed and verified — not just requested — by the importer.
The U.S. importer of record is legally responsible for the FSVP plan, though the foreign supplier typically provides the documentation the importer needs.
For green coffee, it's primarily moisture-driven mold risk and Ochratoxin A, tied to drying and storage conditions at origin.
We build FSVP plans calibrated to your product — not a generic template.
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