The key requirements for entering the U.S. market

Food entering the U.S. market needs to meet both governmental and buyer standards. The latter often exceed the legal requirements.
What requirements are particularly relevant to Tunisian exports?

Non-Safety Related Standards
Other Safety Standards
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
HACCP requirements for the fish and meat industry

The key requirements for entering the U.S. market

The Codex Alimentarius

the Codex Alimentarius Commissioner “Food Code” is a collection of adopted standards, guidelines, and codes of practice. The Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Food Standards Program that was established to protect consumer
health and promote fair practices in global food trade.

USDA and Food and Drug Administration

These requirements come from the USDA and Food and Drug Administration.

USDA: APHIS

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the mission to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. There are protocols in place for imports.

More information

HACCP

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is a systematic series of preventative measures to ensure food safety during all stages of production processes. It is useful to understand the regulations for plants that handle meat and seafood.

Important buyer requirements

ISO 22000:2005

Sets out the requirements for the food and safety management system and can be certified.

BRC

BRC is a leading global product safety and quality certification program used by certificated suppliers in over 100 countries and is recognized as a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked food safety scheme.

Global G.A.P

Global Good Agricultural Practices.

FSMA

The Food and Safety Modernization Act rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of the points to prevent contamination.

Other complementary standards include