Under the United States Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, every commercial food consignment entering the US must have an active Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Prior Notice confirmation before the aircraft touches American soil. For Nigerian food businesses shipping egusi, dried snail, plantain flour, and spices to retail distributors in Houston, Dallas, or Atlanta, mastering Prior Notice is what keeps shipments moving rather than being quarantined at border checkpoints.
What is FDA Prior Notice and When is it Mandatory?
Prior Notice provides US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FDA with advance visibility on all imported human and animal food. It applies to both commercial wholesale cargo and individual commercial parcels. Without a valid Prior Notice Confirmation Number (PNC Number), US customs will automatically issue an entry refusal at international hubs like Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), or Atlanta (ATL).
When you book cargo through Haulam’s shipping from Nigeria to the USA service, our export specialists assist you in submitting and linking your Prior Notice paperwork directly to your airway bill so your cargo clears smoothly.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Generating Your FDA Prior Notice
Follow these practical steps to generate Prior Notice through the FDA Industry Systems (FIS) portal:
- Step 1: Create an FDA FIS Account: Visit the official FDA Industry Systems portal and set up a user account for your Nigerian business entity.
- Step 2: Ensure Facility Registration: The Nigerian food processing facility where your items were manufactured, processed, or packed must possess a valid 11-digit FDA Food Facility Registration Number (FFRN).
- Step 3: Access PNSI (Prior Notice System Interface): Create a new Web Entry. Select the carrier type (Air Cargo) and input the estimated arrival airport and date.
- Step 4: Input Article Details: For each dry food line item, specify the exact FDA Product Code, commercial English name, manufacturer facility registration number, quantity, packaging type, and country of production (Nigeria).
- Step 5: Generate and Print Confirmation: Submit the entry. The system immediately returns a Prior Notice Confirmation Number (PNC Number). Print this document and securely attach it to the outer shipping pouch alongside your commercial invoice.
Allowed Dry Foods vs Banned Goods
The FDA and USDA enforce strict rules regarding agricultural imports:
- Approved Shelf-Stable Dry Goods: Vacuum-packed dried fish, peeled beans, bean flour, yam flour (elubo), dried bitterleaf, garri, fried chin-chin, and ground pepper blends.
- Prohibited Items: Fresh or frozen beef, fresh pork, unpasteurized milk products, live plants, and whole fresh fruits or vegetables that carry pest risks.
Shipping Options: Express vs Value Export to the US
Haulam provides tailored delivery options for American destinations:
- Haulam Express Export: Fast 3 to 5 working day transit via direct air cargo to American doorsteps. Ideal for time-critical food samples and urgent restaurant restocks.
- Haulam Value Export: Cost-effective consolidated air cargo taking 5 to 10 working days with pre-managed US customs clearance and zero destination duty fees for the receiver. Perfect for commercial inventory batches.
Check the live Haulam shipping rate calculator to evaluate real-time freight charges for your cargo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need FDA Prior Notice if I am only sending a personal gift of food to family?
Under US regulations, food sent as a genuine personal gift from an individual in Nigeria to an individual in the US for non-commercial consumption has simplified requirements, but commercial carrier rules often still require full food declarations.
What is the minimum advance notice required for air cargo Prior Notice?
For international air shipments, Prior Notice must be submitted and confirmed at least 4 hours prior to the aircraft’s scheduled arrival at the US port of entry.
Can Haulam help submit FDA Prior Notice on my behalf?
Yes. Our commercial logistics team assists verified business shippers with documentation verification and Prior Notice filings.
Ship Food Cargo to Texas, Georgia, and Nationwide
Haulam coordinates end-to-end logistics, regulatory support, and doorstep delivery across all 50 US states for your Nigerian food brand.
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