When food arrives from China, the Prior Notice filing leaves behind one small but important record: the FDA prior notice confirmation number. It is the evidence that a submission was received and processed, and it belongs in your import file beside the entry paperwork. If you ship packaged food or dietary supplements to the USA, this number comes up in nearly every conversation with your broker, as the simplest way to show FDA was notified before the cargo arrived.
This guide explains what the confirmation number is, how each filing route issues it, what to record alongside it, and what to do if it is missing or a filing is rejected.
What the FDA prior notice confirmation number is
The FDA prior notice confirmation number is the reference returned when a Prior Notice is successfully submitted and processed. FDA requires advance notification of imported food under section 801(m) of the FD&C Act and 21 CFR 1.276 to 1.285, unless the shipment is exempt. For food arriving by water, FDA must receive the notice at least 8 hours before arrival at the first US port. FDA’s guidance on what you need to know about Prior Notice for imported food shipments sets out the requirement in full.
The confirmation number is not an approval. It does not mean FDA has reviewed your product, label or supplier, only that the submission was received and accepted with the details provided. Accuracy remains the filer’s responsibility, and an inaccurate notice can still be refused even when a valid confirmation number is on record. Our prior notice guide covers the filing itself in more detail.
How PNSI returns the confirmation number
PNSI, FDA’s Prior Notice System Interface, generates a pnsi confirmation number on screen as soon as a web submission is processed. The filer enters the product, facility and arrival details and submits; the number appears immediately. Copy it and save it with your entry records before closing the browser, along with a screenshot or PDF where offered.
If a browser closes before the number is saved, the filing may still have gone through. Check the submission status before filing again, so you do not file a duplicate notice. Our FDA Prior Notice filing service walks through the screens if you would rather coordinate filing with the booking.
How ABI filers receive the confirmation number
Brokers who file through ABI/ACS receive the FDA prior notice confirmation number through their broker interface after transmission. The importer never sees the PNSI screen in this arrangement; the broker does, and passes the number back afterwards, usually with the entry summary or filing report.
This is why the confirmation number should be requested in writing whenever a broker files on your behalf; a verbal confirmation is not a record. Ask for the number, the submission date and time, and the arrival details used, so your file matches what was transmitted. The PNSI vs ABI comparison explains how the routes differ.
What to record alongside the number
Keep an itemised record with every FDA prior notice confirmation number:
- The confirmation or PN number itself
- The filer’s name and role
- The submission date and time
- The entry number, once assigned
- The anticipated arrival date and port
- The product description as filed
Store the records where whoever handles customs questions can find them. If FDA or CBP asks about a past shipment, the confirmation number is the starting point, and complete details make any later amendment or cancellation simple.
What to do if the number is missing or the filing is rejected
If a filing is rejected, no usable confirmation number is returned and the system indicates the reason. Common causes include incomplete facility or product data, an invalid arrival port, or a submission outside the permitted window. Correct the data and re-file inside the window.
If the confirmation number is simply missing, first establish whether the submission transmitted. PNSI filers can log back in and review recent submissions; ABI filers should ask the broker to confirm the status. If the filing failed, re-file as early as possible and tell the broker before arrival so the entry details match the corrected notice.
Do not let cargo sail toward a US port with an unresolved filing problem. Once the vessel is at sea the options narrow sharply, and a shipment arriving without an accepted notice risks refusal.
Why the broker and the importer both need it
The broker and the importer need the same FDA prior notice confirmation number for different reasons. The broker uses it to match the notice to the customs entry and answer CBP questions. The importer needs it to show the filing obligation was met before arrival.
Where a broker files for you, request the number with every filing and keep it with the entry documents. It is a small piece of data that settles a large question: whether FDA was notified, when, and with what details.
How the FDA prior notice confirmation number relates to your customs entry
The FDA prior notice confirmation number ties the Prior Notice to the customs entry for the same shipment. When FDA screens arriving cargo, the notice and the entry are compared, and mismatches in consignee, product or arrival details invite questions and delays. Keeping arrival details current helps the two records line up. Our overview of the US customs clearance process for food imports covers the entry side.
If you are planning a shipment and want filing and booking handled on one schedule, you can request a quote and we will confirm the details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FDA prior notice confirmation number?
It is the reference returned when a Prior Notice is successfully submitted and processed. It records that FDA received the notice; it is not an approval of the product or the shipment.
Where do I find the PNSI confirmation number?
It appears on screen immediately after a successful submission in FDA’s Prior Notice System Interface. Copy it and save it with your entry records before closing the browser.
How do I get the confirmation number if my broker files for me?
Ask your broker to send it in writing, with the submission date and arrival details used. Brokers filing through ABI receive the number through their interface.
Does a confirmation number mean FDA approved my shipment?
No. It confirms only that the notice was received and processed. FDA can still review, sample, examine or refuse the shipment on arrival.
What should I do if my filing is rejected?
Correct the issue shown in the rejection message and re-file inside the permitted window. Tell your broker before arrival so entry details match the corrected notice.
How long should I keep confirmation records?
Keep them with your entry and import records for the retention period your compliance programme requires. Itemised records make later amendments and audits faster.
Can one confirmation number cover multiple containers?
A Prior Notice covers the food described in that notice. If a shipment is split across containers or entries, ask your broker how the notices were filed so records match.