FDA 483 OBSERVATION · #391 OF 1,000 MOST-CITED
Definition very small importer
FDA cited this observation 50 times across 46 firms in recent inspections. Below: how it breaks down by program area and fiscal year, and real examples of how FDA worded it on Form FDA 483.
What this observation is associated with
Firms cited for this observation also appear in FDA compliance actions — warning letters, injunctions, or seizures — at 1× the rate of the average FDA-cited firm (8.7% vs 8.3%), across 46 FEI-matched firms.
This is an association, not causation, and reflects co-occurrence in FDA's records — not a claim that the observation caused or preceded the action.
How FDA worded it — real examples
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer before initially importing a food as a very small importer.
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer before initially importing a food as a very small importer and annually each year after importing food as a very small importer.
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer annually each year after importing food as a very small importer.
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer before initially importing a food as a very small importer.
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer.
You chose to comply with the requirements for a very small importer, but you did not document that you meet the definition of a very small importer before initially importing a food as a very small importer.
Related SPEQ references
Where to read the requirements behind this observation area on SPEQ. These are SPEQ's topic and audience pages — not an FDA classification of the citation.
Examples are a representative sample of FDA's published inspection observations. SPEQ is not affiliated with the FDA; this is a reference view of public FDA data.
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