Sesame export requirements for United States

A foreign facility that manufactures/processes, packs or holds food for US consumption must register with FDA before it starts (21 CFR 1.230) and renew between 1 October and 31 December of every even-numbered year; the 2026 renewal window is open now. Foreign facilities must name a US agent (21 CFR 1.232). There is no fee.

Prior notice must be submitted to and confirmed by FDA before each food shipment arrives: at least 8 hours before arrival by water, 4 hours by air or rail, 2 hours by road (21 CFR 1.279). It can be filed up to 30 days ahead through ABI/ACE or 15 days ahead through FDA PNSI.

FDA’s compliance policy guide for sesame seeds sets the levels at which it takes action: an average of 5% or more insect-infested or decomposed seeds by weight, 5 mg or more of mammalian excreta per pound, or 0.5% or more foreign matter by weight.

Under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program rule the US importer (not you) must analyse the hazards of each food, approve each foreign supplier and verify it, for example by audits, sampling and testing, or reviewing your food safety records. Suppliers that cannot show controls may be dropped.

The FASTER Act made sesame the ninth major food allergen in the US; all FDA allergen labelling and manufacturing requirements have applied to sesame since 1 January 2023. Relevant when you ship packaged food labelled for sale.