由 lltx1822 Comprehensive Compliance Guide and Risk Avoidance for Shipping Pet Food to the United States
The import of pet food in the United States is regulated by a dual – system of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before transportation, companies must register their food enterprises (FCE) with the FDA and apply to the USDA for import permits for animal – derived ingredients. If pet food contains meat or poultry ingredients, a veterinary health certificate must be provided to prove that the raw materials come from areas free of diseases such as mad cow disease and foot – and – mouth disease, and the manufacturing factory must be certified by HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
In terms of packaging, food – grade sealed containers should be used. The outer packaging must have a complete English label indicating the ingredient list, nutritional information, applicable pet types, feeding instructions, production date, shelf life, country of origin, and other information. The label content must comply with the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). If genetically modified ingredients are included, they must be clearly identified.
Transportation methods can be selected according to requirements. Air freight is fast, taking about 3 – 5 days from major Chinese cities to the east and west coasts of the United States, but it is expensive. Sea freight is suitable for large – volume transportation, taking 25 – 35 days. Attention should be paid to the temperature control of containers to avoid food deterioration due to high temperatures. It is recommended to use cold – chain transportation, especially for wet food and freeze – dried products.
The customs clearance process is of utmost importance. The U.S. Customs will strictly verify the declared documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and component analysis reports. If the goods are selected for sampling inspection, they may be subject to laboratory testing, which takes 3 – 7 days. To speed up the customs clearance process, it is advisable to entrust a professional customs broker to conduct the Importer Security Filing (ISF) in advance and purchase transportation insurance that covers risks such as inspection delays and cargo destruction.