What is FDA food facility registration, and who must register?

FDA food facility registration is the record FDA keeps of where food is made, packed, or stored before it reaches U.S. consumers. A domestic or foreign facility engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding food for consumption in the United States — human or animal — generally has to register, unless an exemption in 21 CFR 1.226 applies. Animal food sits inside that definition, so the plant that extrudes your kibble and the room where treats are bagged are both in scope.

When is the 2026 renewal window, and what happens if a facility misses it?

Registration is not a one-time act. FDA requires renewal during every even-numbered year, and renewals are only accepted inside the window that runs October 1 through December 31. For 2026, that window opened October 1, 2026 and closes December 31, 2026. FDA’s constituent update on biennial renewal requirements is the notice to forward to every supplier on your list.

Does FDA charge a fee to register or renew?

No. FDA does not charge a fee for food facility registration or for the biennial renewal. Registration is submitted electronically through FDA’s Food Facility Registration Module, commonly referred to as FURLS, and the agency processes it without a filing charge.

What is a UFI, and does my supplier need a DUNS number?

A Unique Facility Identifier, or UFI, is the standardized identifier FDA now requires on food facility registrations. Since October 1, 2020, a registration must include an acceptable UFI, and FDA currently accepts the Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number, usually called DUNS, as that identifier.

What changes when a facility changes ownership?

FDA treats registration as tied to both the facility and its owner. When ownership transfers, the previous owner is expected to cancel the existing registration within 60 days of the transfer, and the new owner must register the facility before operating under the new ownership. The registration does not roll over to the buyer.

What is a qualified facility attestation, and does it affect your supplier file?

Some smaller operations meet FDA’s definition of a qualified facility, which qualifies them for modified preventive controls requirements. Those facilities carry an attestation obligation, and FDA’s guidance places that attestation in the same October 1 through December 31 renewal period. The order matters: a facility needs a valid registration first, and the attestation is tied to that cycle. FDA walks through these questions in its animal food facility registration and qualified facility attestation FAQ.

Do foreign pet food facilities need a U.S. agent and prior notice?

Yes to both, and they are separate obligations. A foreign facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds animal food for the U.S. market must register and must designate a U.S. agent who can speak for it in FDA communications. FDA is explicit on one nuance: the U.S. agent may register the facility on its behalf, but is not required to. The facility can file its own registration in FURLS.

What should an independent pet store actually ask a supplier for?

Most store owners are not facility owners, and it would be wrong to say that every retail shop must hold its own FDA food facility registration. What you need is evidence that the facility behind your food and treats is registered and current. Ask for one indexed file per supplier and refresh it every fall:

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FDA Food Facility Registration: 2026 Rules | JustForPetStore

FDA food facility registration renews Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026, and expires if missed. See what to demand from your pet food supplier, then get our checklist.

JFPStore Editorial
09/10/2026
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FDA Food Facility Registration: 2026 Rules | JustForPetStore

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FDA Food Facility Registration: 2026 Rules | JustForPetStore

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