How we match FDA records to a supplier

FDA identifies each facility it deals with by an FDA Establishment Identifier (FEI). A SupplierTrail report is always about one FEI.

Records FDA files under the FEI

Import refusals, inspections and compliance actions in FDA’s Data Dashboard carry the FEI, so we show them as FDA published them, with a link to FDA’s page.

Import alerts

FDA’s import alert lists name firms by name and address, usually without an FEI. We link an entry to an FEI only when it is verified, in one of three ways:

• FDA wrote the FEI in the entry itself;
• FDA’s own FEI lookup service returns that FEI for the listed name and address (checked again every 180 days); or
• a person checked FDA’s firm profile for that FEI and found the same import alert number listed.

Anything less, such as a similar name, is never shown as a link.

What we don’t cover

• Other sites, parent companies or trading companies, unless FDA lists them under the same FEI.
• Records FDA has not published yet. Import refusals are published monthly.
• Anything outside FDA’s public data: certifications, audits, test results.

We use FDA’s own words and categories only. Found an error? Tell us; we review every report within 48 hours.