FDA Food Facility Registrar
The registrar role, briefly — and where to get the full food facility registration details.
Key Takeaways
- The FDA registration is free — $0 government fee to register, update, renew, or cancel.
- FDA issues a number, not a certificate — don't buy a fake "certificate."
- Biennial renewal — Oct 1–Dec 31 of even years; 2026 is a renewal year.
- A DUNS number is required (free) and must match your facility exactly.
- Foreign facilities need a U.S. Agent.
- Registration ≠ approval. Full details in the registration guide.
The Full Guide & Related Pages
This is a short overview. For fees, the renewal window, DUNS, and the U.S. Agent requirement, use the guide and related pages:
Food facility registration (full)
$0 fee, 2026 renewal, DUNS & requirements.
Open the guide →Establishment registration
Registration across all FDA programs.
Overview →U.S. Agent
Required for foreign food facilities.
U.S. Agent →Number, not a certificate
How to verify a registration.
Verify →Register Your Food Facility
FDA Registration Assistance completes food facility registration and biennial renewals, helps you obtain/verify your DUNS, and serves as your U.S. Agent for foreign facilities — keeping our service fee separate from the $0 government fee, and being clear that FDA issues a number (not a certificate) and that registration isn't approval. Start with the full registration guide.
Contact us at info@fdaregistrationassistance.com or call +1 (928) 275-8333 for a quote. An independent compliance firm serving 1,000+ companies across 135+ countries, with 15+ years of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions — Food Facility Registrar
1. What is an FDA food facility registrar?
A food facility registrar is a service that completes and maintains your FDA food facility registration for you - the registration itself, biennial renewals, DUNS assistance, and (for foreign facilities) the U.S. Agent role. It's optional help; you can register yourself, since the FDA registration is free. For fees, the renewal window, and requirements, see our full food facility registration guide.
2. How much does FDA food facility registration cost?
The FDA fee is $0 - food facility registration, updates, biennial renewal, and cancellation are all free from the government. Any cost is a service fee if you have a registrar handle it, plus obtaining a DUNS number (also free from Dun & Bradstreet). Be cautious of anyone charging a "government fee" for this free registration. See our food facility registration fee guide for the full breakdown.
3. Do I even need a registrar?
Not necessarily. Because the registration is free and can be done through FDA's system, a straightforward domestic facility can self-register. A registrar earns its fee on the harder parts - foreign facilities needing a U.S. Agent, DUNS issues, keeping renewals on track, or coordinating registration across multiple facilities/programs. If your situation is simple, you may not need one. Our food facility registration guide explains the steps.
4. Does FDA issue a food facility registration certificate?
No - FDA issues a registration number, not a certificate. There is no official "FDA food facility registration certificate," and FDA doesn't endorse third-party certificates. So don't buy a "certificate" as proof of registration, and be wary of any registrar selling one. What proves registration is your number in FDA's system. See our registration verification page.
5. How often do I renew?
Food facility registration renews every two years (biennially), during the renewal window that runs October 1 to December 31 of each even-numbered year - so 2026 is a renewal year. Every registered facility must renew, including those first registered earlier the same year. Missing the window means your registration expires. Our food facility registration guide covers the 2026 renewal in detail.
6. Do I need a DUNS number?
Yes - FDA requires a DUNS number as your Unique Facility Identifier for food facility registration. It's free from Dun & Bradstreet, but must match your registering facility's name and address exactly, and can take time to obtain if you don't have one. A registrar can help you get or verify it. See our food facility registration guide.
7. Do foreign food facilities need a U.S. Agent?
Yes - a foreign food facility must designate a U.S. Agent as part of its FDA registration. Many registrars (including us) can serve as your U.S. Agent and complete the registration together. See our U.S. Agents guide for the role and our food facility registration guide for how it fits into registering.
8. Does registration mean my food is FDA-approved?
No. Food facility registration is administrative - it places your facility in FDA's system so you can operate/import; it is not FDA "approval," and FDA doesn't "approve" food or facilities. Using "FDA registered" as if it means approval is misleading. The accurate description is that your facility is registered. Our registration verification page explains the difference.
9. What happens if I don't register (or let it lapse)?
Operating or importing food from an unregistered facility violates FDA requirements, and food from an unregistered foreign facility can be refused at the border. If your registration lapses (for example, by missing the biennial renewal), it's treated as expired - you'd need to register again, and shipments can be held. Keeping registration current is the point of using a registrar. See our food facility registration guide.
10. Can one registrar handle multiple facilities?
Yes - a registrar can register and maintain multiple facilities and coordinate their renewals on one schedule, which is useful for companies with several sites or products across FDA programs. Each facility has its own registration and DUNS, but one provider can manage them together. Our food facility registration guide covers multi-facility registration.
11. How do I choose a food facility registrar?
Look for transparency: a registrar that's clear the FDA registration is free ($0 government fee), that FDA issues a number (not a certificate), and that separates its service fee from any government costs. Be cautious of "government fee" charges that don't exist, "certificate" sales, or "guaranteed approval" language. Honest and accurate matters more than slogans. Our food facility registration guide sets out what's actually required.
12. Is dietary supplement registration the same?
Dietary supplements are regulated as a category of food, so a supplement manufacturer/packer/holder generally registers as a food facility too - same free registration, DUNS, biennial renewal, and (for foreign facilities) U.S. Agent. The labeling rules differ (Supplement Facts, DSHEA), but the facility registration follows the food framework. See our food facility registration guide.
13. Can you register my facility quickly?
Once you have a valid DUNS and your facility information ready, completing the registration is fast. The main thing that can add time is obtaining a DUNS if you don't have one. We won't promise "same-day FDA approval" (registration isn't approval, and FDA doesn't approve same-day), but we can complete the registration promptly when you're ready. See our food facility registration guide.
14. Where's the full food facility registration guide?
See our food facility registration fee and cost guide - it covers the $0 FDA fee, the 2026 biennial renewal window, DUNS, the U.S. Agent requirement for foreign facilities, the number-not-certificate point, and what a service actually costs. This page is a short overview of the registrar role; that guide has the detail.
15. How is food registration different from establishment registration generally?
Food facility registration is the food-program version of FDA establishment registration; drug, device, and cosmetic programs each have their own registration with different rules and fees (for example, devices carry an annual MDUFA fee, while food and cosmetic registration are free). Our FDA establishment registration overview compares them, and our food facility registration guide covers food specifically.
16. How does FDA Registration Assistance handle food facility registration?
We complete food facility registration and biennial renewals, help you obtain/verify your DUNS, and serve as your U.S. Agent for foreign facilities - keeping our service fee separate from the $0 government fee and being clear that FDA issues a number (not a certificate) and that registration isn't approval. We're an independent compliance firm serving 1,000+ companies across 135+ countries with 15+ years of experience. Contact info@fdaregistrationassistance.com or +1 (928) 275-8333, or see our food facility registration guide first.
