Food Facility Registration Renewal 2026
Food facilities required to register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must renew their registration every two years. In 2026, the FDA food facility registration renewal period runs from October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
Facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for consumption in the United States should review their registration information and complete the required renewal before the deadline.
Failure to renew by 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2026 can result in the registration being considered expired and removed from the FDA registration account.
What Is FDA Food Facility Registration?
Under Section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for consumption in the United States generally must register with FDA unless an exemption applies.
Food facility registration allows FDA to maintain information about facilities involved in the U.S. food supply and supports the agency’s ability to respond to food safety emergencies.
Registration requirements can apply to both domestic and foreign facilities that fall within the scope of the regulation.
When Is the 2026 Renewal Period?
The 2026 biennial renewal period is:
October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
FDA requires applicable food facilities to renew their registrations during the renewal period in each even-numbered year.
For 2026, the final deadline is:
December 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Facilities should not wait until the final days of the renewal period, particularly if registration information needs to be corrected or additional documentation is required.
Who Needs to Renew?
Food facilities that are required to register with FDA generally need to complete the biennial renewal.
This can include facilities that:
- Manufacture food
- Process food
- Pack food
- Hold food
- Manufacture or handle food for human consumption
- Manufacture or handle food for animal consumption
Both domestic and foreign facilities may be subject to FDA food facility registration requirements.
However, not every food-related business is required to register. Certain exemptions apply under FDA regulations, so companies should first determine whether their facility is actually required to register.
What Information Should Be Reviewed Before Renewal?
Renewal is more than simply clicking a renewal option in the FDA system.
Companies should review the information associated with their registration and confirm that it remains accurate.
Important information to review includes:
Facility Information
Verify the facility’s:
- Legal name
- Physical address
- Mailing address
- Contact information
- Facility ownership information
U.S. Agent Information
Foreign facilities should review their U.S. agent information and confirm that it remains current.
Facility Activities
Review the activities conducted at the facility and confirm that the registration accurately reflects the facility’s operations.
Food Product Categories
Companies should also verify the food product categories associated with their registration.
Changes to products, manufacturing activities, ownership, or other required registration information may require an update in addition to the biennial renewal.
Renewal Is Different From Updating a Registration
One important point for facilities is that renewing an FDA food facility registration is not the same as updating registration information.
FDA specifically distinguishes between the two functions.
If information about a registered facility changes, the registrant may have a separate obligation to update the registration within the required timeframe.
During the biennial renewal period, applicable changes can generally be addressed as part of the renewal process when permitted by FDA’s system and regulations.
Companies should therefore review their registration carefully rather than simply submitting the renewal without checking the underlying information.
Unique Facility Identifier Requirement
FDA requires food facility registrations to include a Unique Facility Identifier (UFI) recognized by FDA.
FDA currently recognizes the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as an acceptable UFI.
The UFI is used to help FDA verify facility-specific information, including the address associated with the facility.
Facilities should confirm that their UFI information is accurate before submitting their renewal.
How to Renew Your FDA Food Facility Registration
Food facility registration renewals are generally submitted electronically through FDA’s FDA Industry Systems (FIS).
The general process includes:
- Access your FDA Industry Systems account.
- Open the Food Facility Registration module.
- Select the registration that requires renewal.
- Review the facility information.
- Update information where necessary.
- Review the facility’s food categories and activities.
- Confirm the required UFI information.
- Submit the renewal.
- Retain confirmation and registration records for your compliance files.
FDA provides a step-by-step user guide for the biennial renewal process.
Is There a Fee for FDA Food Facility Registration Renewal?
There is no FDA fee for food facility registration or biennial renewal.
Companies should be cautious if third parties request payment for an FDA registration renewal or claim that a payment is required to maintain an FDA food facility registration.
FDA has also warned businesses about third parties requesting sensitive Food Facility Registration information, including registration numbers, PINs, usernames, and passwords.
Protect Your FDA Registration Information
FDA issued a 2026 reminder about protecting food facility registration information.
Businesses should not share their FIS-FURLS username or password with third parties.
FDA also states that businesses should be careful about sharing their Food Facility Registration number and PIN with third-party platforms or service providers.
If another person needs to assist with registration management, FDA’s system provides mechanisms for account holders to establish appropriate access rather than sharing login credentials.
What Happens If You Miss the December 31 Deadline?
Facilities that fail to renew their registration by the end of the renewal period risk having their registration considered expired.
FDA states that registrations not renewed by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 of the applicable even-numbered year will be considered expired and removed from the account.
For this reason, companies should treat the December 31 deadline as a firm compliance deadline and begin the renewal process early enough to resolve any issues.
Qualified Facilities and 2026 Attestation
Some facilities that qualify for modified requirements under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) may also have a Qualified Facility Attestation (QFA) obligation.
FDA states that qualified facilities must submit their attestation during the same biennial renewal period.
A valid food facility registration is required to submit the qualified facility attestation.
Companies that believe they qualify for qualified facility status should therefore review both their registration renewal and applicable attestation requirements.
Common Food Facility Registration Renewal Mistakes
Companies can encounter avoidable compliance problems when renewing their FDA registration.
Common issues include:
- Waiting until the final days of the renewal period
