Routine registration and emergency communications under the registration regulation relate to
facilities, not to specific shipments. FDA expects that food facility registration requirements will
have no impact on customary communications regarding the disposition of a particular food
shipment. A firm’s commercial business in the United States need not be conducted exclusively
through the U.S. agent designated for registration purposes (21 CFR 1.227). Ordinarily, for
example, for questions relating to an imported food shipment subject to the prior notice
requirements (21 CFR part 1, subpart I), FDA will contact the transmitter or submitter of the prior
notice, rather than the U.S. agent for the facility associated with the shipment.
