# Accreditation of Third-Party Certification Bodies To Conduct Food Safety Audits and To Issue Certifications
> **Food and Drug Administration** · Final rule. · Published 2015-11-27 · Effective 2016-01-26 · 80 FR 74570
## Document
- **Document number:** 2015-28160
- **Category:** fda-food
- **Sub-agency:** Food and Drug Administration
- **Federal Register citation:** 80 FR 74570
- **CFR reference:** 21 CFR 1
- **Publication date:** 2015-11-27
- **Effective date:** 2016-01-26
- **HHS docket:** Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0146
## Abstract

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is adopting regulations to provide for accreditation of third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety audits of foreign food entities, including registered foreign food facilities, and to issue food and facility certifications, under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). These certifications will be required for participation in the voluntary qualified importer program (VQIP) established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). In addition, when the Agency has determined that an imported food is subject to certification under FSMA, the Agency may require a certification under this rule as a condition for admitting the food into the United States. FDA also expects that these regulations will increase efficiency by reducing the number of redundant food safety audits.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/11/27/2015-28160/accreditation-of-third-party-certification-bodies-to-conduct-food-safety-audits-and-to-issue)
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