The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is stepping up its digital overhaul with a new online registration platform for processed food products, a move aimed at reducing paperwork, speeding up approvals, and strengthening regulatory oversight across the food sector.
Under FDA Circular No. 2026-0002, issued on June 4, the agency launched its eServices System as the future centerpiece of processed food registration, replacing the existing Modified Electronic Registration System. The platform will eventually become the FDA’s sole portal for applications involving Certificates of Product Registration (CPRs), including renewals, amendments, corrections, reapplications, and cancellations.
The shift reflects the agency’s broader push to modernize regulatory processes as food manufacturers and importers increasingly seek faster, more predictable government transactions.
Once fully operational, the new system will permanently replace the current ePortal. Food business operators with valid Licenses to Operate—whether manufacturers, importers, traders, or wholesalers—will continue to bear responsibility for product safety, regulatory compliance, and the accuracy of submitted information.
The circular also introduces tighter registration rules designed to improve traceability and data integrity. These include limiting each CPR to one product per manufacturing plant, requiring Certificates of Analysis to have at least 24 months of validity, and prohibiting multiple applications for the same product from a single manufacturer.
While tightening controls, the FDA is also easing some administrative burdens. Notably, it has scrapped the requirement for applicants to submit product samples for every stock keeping unit (SKU) when seeking CPRs for food and dietary supplements, potentially reducing compliance costs and processing bottlenecks.
The agency maintained its target turnaround time of 20 working days from payment confirmation, in line with its Citizen’s Charter.
The reforms underscore the FDA’s balancing act: strengthening food safety oversight while making it easier for businesses to bring compliant products to market in an increasingly digital regulatory environment.
