USDA Compliance

USDA and Regulatory Compliance Guide

USDA and Regulatory Compliance: Everything You Need to Know

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a government agency responsible for regulating and enforcing laws related to agriculture, food, and rural development. As part of its mandate, the USDA also oversees compliance with a range of regulations related to food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection, and more.

If you're involved in any aspect of agriculture or food production, it's important to understand the various USDA regulations and compliance requirements that apply to your business. In this article, we'll provide an overview of some of the most important USDA regulations, along with relevant keywords related to regulatory compliance.

USDA Regulatory Compliance: Key Areas

The USDA regulates a wide range of activities related to agriculture and food production, including the following areas:

Food Safety:

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products sold in the United States. The FSIS enforces a range of regulations related to food safety, including those related to labeling, packaging, handling, and processing.

Key areas related to USDA food safety compliance include: USDA food safety regulations, USDA food safety inspection, USDA food safety certification, USDA food safety training.

Animal Welfare:

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for enforcing laws related to animal welfare, including those related to transportation, humane treatment, and slaughter. APHIS also regulates the import and export of animals and animal products.

Key areas related to USDA animal welfare compliance include: USDA animal welfare regulations, USDA animal welfare act, USDA animal welfare inspection, USDA animal welfare training.

Environmental Protection:

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for promoting and implementing conservation practices that protect soil, water, and other natural resources. The NRCS provides technical assistance and financial incentives to farmers and landowners to help them implement conservation practices.

Key areas related to USDA environmental compliance include: USDA conservation programs, USDA environmental regulations, USDA environmental assessment, USDA conservation planning.

Rural Development:

The USDA's Rural Development program provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to support economic development in rural areas. This program helps rural businesses and communities access the capital, infrastructure, and resources they need to thrive.

Key areas related to USDA rural development compliance include: USDA rural development programs, USDA rural development loans, USDA rural development grants, USDA rural development technical assistance.

USDA Regulatory Compliance: Key Areas

If you're looking for more information about USDA regulatory compliance, here are some keywords related to each of the areas we discussed:

  • USDA food safety regulations
  • USDA food safety inspection
  • USDA food safety certification
  • USDA food safety training
  • USDA animal welfare regulations
  • USDA animal welfare act
  • USDA animal welfare inspection
  • USDA animal welfare training
  • USDA conservation programs
  • USDA environmental regulations
  • USDA environmental assessment
  • USDA conservation planning
  • USDA rural development programs
  • USDA rural development loans
  • USDA rural development grants
  • USDA rural development technical assistance

Compliance with USDA regulations is critical for businesses operating in the agriculture and food industries. Understanding the various USDA regulations and compliance requirements that apply to your business is essential to ensure that you're operating in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner. If you need more information about USDA regulatory compliance, be sure to check out the USDA website or consult with a regulatory expert.

Importation of USDA-Regulated Products into the US

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the importation of animals and animal products, plants and plants product, veterinary biologics, genetically engineered organisms and more to ensure that exotic plants and animals of potential risk and diseases are not introduced to the United States. If you plan to import a USDA-regulated product into the United States, you will need to determine if a USDA permit will be required. Read more

FDA or USDA Regulated?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are the two main government agencies that regulate the nation’s food supply, whether produced domestically or imported from foreign countries. Who regulates what food product depends on how that food is processed. Read more

Country of Origin Labeling

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a mandatory labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets and club warehouse stores, to notify their customers with information regarding the source of certain foods. Read more

Importing Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products into the United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that domestic and imported meat, poultry, and egg products are safe and wholesome. Read more

In-Depth Coverage: USDA-Regulated Products

Labeling and Marking of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

Meat, poultry, and egg products imported into the United States must adhere to the labeling standards in the Federal meat, poultry and egg products inspection Acts, regulations, and policies, or their equivalent. Read more

Import Regulation by Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act applies to specific fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop imports into the United States. It is the responsibility of the importer of record to have each shipment imported inspected for size, grade, and quality to receive a United States’ USDA/AMS inspection certificate by AMS. Read more

Import of animals, animal products, and biologics into the U.S

The import and export of animals, animal products, and biologics are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS restricts some animals and animal products from entering the United States because of the animal health situation in the region of origin.  Read more… 

USDA National Organic Program (NOP)

National Organic Program (NOP) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces uniform national standards for organically-produced agricultural products sold in the United States. Read more

In-Depth Coverage: Importing Medical Device 

In-Depth Coverage: Importing Cosmetics

In-Depth Coverage: Trade Remedies

In-Depth Coverage: Customs Valuation

In-Depth Coverage: Importing Food Products 

In-Depth Coverage: Marketing and Advertising Compliance

Quick Link To U.S. Customs & Import Requirements

Customs Clearance and Import Requirements

FDA-Regulated Products and Import Requirements

Guidance on customs & logistics solution for traditional and e-commerce importers and exporters

Ocean Freight

Importer Security Filing (ISF)

An ISF is required when cargo (ocean only) laden on vessel at a foreign port is destined for shipment to the U.S.  Under ISF rule, some importing information and details regarding cargo must be transmitted to the CBP at least 24 hours before goods are loaded onto the vessel.

Customs Brokerage & Consulting

Customs Clearance

All goods imported into the U.S. are required to be declared to CBP. Our customs broker will help you stay in compliance with customs laws and regulations and clear your goods quickly and efficiently with our electronic Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and Automated Broker Interface (ABI) Single Window System.

Warehousing & Logistics

Warehousing & Distribution

Our warehouse facility offers great potential for serving as a regional hub with over 145,000 SF storage capacity close to Los Angeles Airport & Los Angeles/Long Beach Sea port. With our extensive experience in freight services, your import/export cargo will be handled quickly and effectively.


Section 321 Entry

Section 321 Entry

Section 321 entry allows importing free of duty and tax for shipments imported by one person on one day having a fair retail value in the country of shipment not more than $800. We provide our resident and non-resident clients with dedicated ACE eManifest solutions for Section 321 entry of all modes of transportation. 

E-Commerce

E-Commerce

Every day, millions of Americans make online purchases through e-commerce. The Internet has made it easy to find and purchase items from almost anywhere in the world. Our e-commerce experts will help you find the right solution for your transportation and customs clearance.

Country of Origin

Non-resident Importer Program

If you want to sell your products in U.S. marketplaces, but you are a business owner located outside of the U.S. and do not have an entity or presence in the U.S., you need to be established as a Foreign Importer of Record before your products can be imported into the U.S. We can help you.

Customs Binding Ruling

Taking steps to ensure compliance is very important in order to avoid potential problems during the clearance process. The Customs binding ruling program enables importers to receive a binding ruling from CBP on the treatment of your goods when entering the U.S.