Importing from parent company in Japan to US
We produce high end imitation crab.
One of our ingredients is wheat starch. It's becoming harder and harder to find a supplier in the US where we are located.
Our parent company is in Japan and has access to a better supply of wheat starch.
What regulations are there in importing wheat starch?
We are SQF, they are thinking the parent company also needs SQF certification.
Thanks in advance!
Your supplier does not have to be SQF (or any GFSI) certified (regardless of whether or not you're all under one umbrella) They do, however, have to meet the requirements below
2.3.4 Approved Supplier Program (Mandatory) 2.3.4.1 The responsibility and procedure for selecting, evaluating, approving, and monitoring an approved supplier shall be documented and implemented.
A current record of approved suppliers, receiving inspections, and supplier audits shall be maintained. 2.3.4.2 The responsibility and procedure for selecting, evaluating, approving, and monitoring an approved supplier shall be documented and implemented.
A current record of approved suppliers, receiving inspections, and supplier audits shall be maintained. 2.3.4.3 Verification of raw materials shall include certificates of conformance, certificates of analysis, or sampling, and testing. The verification frequency shall be identified by the site. 2.3.4.4 The receipt of raw materials, ingredients, processing aids, and packaging from nonapproved suppliers shall be acceptable only in an emergency situation and provided a receiving inspection or analysis is conducted and recorded before use. 2.3.4.5 Raw materials, ingredients, and packaging received from other sites under the same corporate ownership shall be subject to the same specification requirements (refer to 2.3.2), approved supplier requirements, and receiving inspections as all other material providers. 2.3.4.6 Supplier audits shall be based on risk (as determined in 2.3.4.2) and shall be conducted by individuals knowledgeable of applicable regulatory and food safety requirements and trained in auditing techniques.
You'd have to do some research with the FDA to see what you're regulatory requirements are re: importation of goods