FDA food facility renewal 2026: the window, the DUNS number, and the four things that trip people up

Updated 2026-08-24

The window is fixed and it does not move

Food facility registrations have to be renewed every two years, and the renewal period runs from 1 October to 31 December of each even-numbered year. 2026 is an even year, so the window is 1 October to 31 December 2026.

A registration that has not been renewed by the end of 31 December is treated as expired and is removed from the account. There is no grace period written into the rule, and there is no fee for renewing. If someone is asking you to pay FDA to renew, that is not FDA.

Who has to do it

Any facility that manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for consumption in the United States, whether it sits in the US or overseas. Dietary supplement facilities are inside that definition, which surprises a lot of supplement brands.

A foreign facility also has to name a US agent: someone who lives in the United States or has a US place of business and is physically present here. A mailbox or an answering service does not qualify.

The DUNS number is the part that catches people out

Every registration, new or renewal, has to carry a unique facility identifier, and the identifier FDA recognises is the Dun and Bradstreet D-U-N-S number. The address registered against that DUNS number has to match the address on the FDA registration.

Dun and Bradstreet charges nothing for a D-U-N-S number. What it costs is time: the free application normally takes up to thirty business days. D&B sells an expedited option separately if you cannot wait.

This is why we tell plants to start in August, not in November. If your DUNS is not in hand when the window opens, the calendar is no longer under your control.

The four things that actually go wrong

One. The DUNS address and the registration address do not match, usually because the DUNS was created years ago against an old address. Fix the DUNS record first; fixing it afterwards means resubmitting.

Two. The US agent listed on the registration is unreachable. FDA emails the agent a notification with an activation link, and if nobody clicks it the designation does not complete. We have seen registrations sit in limbo for weeks over one unopened email.

Three. Nobody at the company knows the FDA account login, because the person who registered two years ago has left. Sort this out before December, not during it.

Four. The facility assumes its importer or its US distributor renewed on its behalf. Renewal is the facility's obligation. A distributor cannot carry it for you.

What it costs to have someone do it

FDA charges nothing for the registration or the renewal itself. What you would be paying a firm for is the preparation, the submission and the follow-through.

For reference, our own fee for a food or supplement facility registration or renewal is $299, delivered in three business days once we have your information in full, and $499 if you bundle it with a year of US agent service. If you do not have a DUNS number yet, the filing is $149 and we track it until the number is issued.

Common questions

Is there a fee to renew an FDA food facility registration?

No. FDA does not charge for food facility registration or for the biennial renewal. Any fee you pay is to a service provider, not to FDA.

What happens if I miss 31 December?

The registration is treated as expired and removed from the account. You would then have to register again, and in the meantime your shipments are exposed to being held at the border for an invalid registration.

Do dietary supplement facilities have to renew?

Yes. Dietary supplements are food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, so a supplement facility is a food facility for registration purposes.

Can I use a mailbox service as my US agent?

No. FDA requires the US agent to live in the United States or maintain a US place of business and be physically present here. A mailbox, an answering machine or an answering service does not satisfy that.

How long does a DUNS number take?

The free application from Dun and Bradstreet normally takes up to thirty business days. D&B offers a paid expedited route if you need it faster. Because the timing is outside your control, start it well before the renewal window opens.

Sources

• FDA, Food Facility Registration User Guide: Biennial Registration Renewal — fda.gov
• FDA, Registration of Food Facilities and Other Submissions — fda.gov
• FDA on the unique facility identifier (DUNS) requirement — fda.gov

This guide is general information about FDA registration requirements, not legal advice, and it does not create a client relationship. Registration with FDA is not FDA approval or clearance. Confirm the position for your own facility before you rely on it.