Comparison
FDA Data Dashboard vs SupplierRadar: what each does
Updated 6 min read11 primary sources
FDA's free tools are the official sources: the FDA Data Dashboard lets anyone look up a firm's inspection classifications, compliance actions, recalls and import refusals by name or FEI, and FDA's Import Alerts search shows red, green and yellow lists in real time. They do not watch a list of suppliers for you or email you when one changes; SupplierRadar combines those public records into one dated history per supplier and emails you when a watched supplier's record changes.
Key facts
- FDA Data Dashboard
- Free; datasets updated weekly; final actions only
- FDA Import Alerts
- Free; updated in real time; search by keyword, country, industry
- Per-supplier email alerts from FDA
- Not offered; FDA has a general Import Alerts Weekly Summary
- SupplierRadar
- One page per supplier; email when a watched supplier changes
- Authority
- FDA's records are the source; SupplierRadar links to them
What do FDA's free supplier lookup tools cover?
| FDA tool | What it covers | How current | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA Data Dashboard | Inspection classifications and citations, compliance actions, recalls, import refusals | Datasets updated weekly; final actions only | Refusals for shipments refused on or after 10/01/2016; older ones in the legacy Import Refusal Report |
| Firm/Supplier Evaluation Resources (on the Dashboard) | Firm search by name or FEI across inspections, citations, compliance actions, recalls, refusals and alerts | Follows the Dashboard data | Built for supplier verification under FSVP and the preventive controls rules |
| Import Alerts (accessdata.fda.gov) | Every import alert with its red, green and yellow lists | Updated in real time | Search by keyword or browse by country, industry, number or publish date |
| Warning Letters page | Posted warning letters, with response and close-out letters where posted | Each letter shows its issue and posted dates | Search by company, subject, issuing office and date; XLSX export; email subscription box |
| openFDA food enforcement API | Classified recalls from FDA's Recall Enterprise System, 2004 to present | Updated weekly | API key optional; limits per minute and per day |
| FDA Data Dashboard API | Inspections, citations, compliance actions, import refusals | Follows the Dashboard data | Requires credentials from FDA's OII Unified Logon; up to 5,000 rows per response |
FDA's own FSVP guidance (Question E.13) points importers to the FDA Data Dashboard as a way to obtain a foreign supplier's FDA compliance history.
How does SupplierRadar differ from FDA's tools?
| Task | With FDA's free tools | With SupplierRadar |
|---|---|---|
| See all of one supplier's FDA records | Search the Dashboard, the Import Alerts pages, the Warning Letters page and the Enforcement Report separately | One page per supplier with a dated timeline; each event links to its FDA record |
| Know when a supplier is added to or removed from an import alert | Re-check the alert pages, or read FDA's general Import Alerts Weekly Summary email | Email to watchers when the weekly check detects the change; removals shown at the top of the supplier page |
| Check many suppliers at once | One search at a time in the web tools, or the Dashboard API with credentials | Bulk check for 5 suppliers free; CSV import on Pro and Team |
| Document the check for your FSVP file | Save screenshots or exports and note the dates yourself | Dated evaluation PDF per supplier listing each source and its update date (paid plans) |
| Track 3-year reevaluations | Your own calendar | Reminder before each supplier's 3-year reevaluation (paid plans) |
| Cost | Free | Free for 1 supplier; paid plans from $29 a month |
When are FDA's free tools enough?
- You import from a handful of suppliers and have time to re-check each FDA source regularly.
- You need a one-time lookup, for example before approving a new supplier.
- You need raw data for analysis and can use the Dashboard downloads or API.
The method for a manual check is in How to check if a supplier is on an FDA import alert.
When does monitoring save time?
The FSVP rule makes the check continuous, not one-time. 21 CFR 1.505(c)(1) requires a prompt reevaluation when you learn new information about a supplier, and FDA's 2023 FSVP guidance (Question E.9) says importers should stay aware of new warning letters, import alerts and inspection classifications by frequently checking what FDA posts. FDA's Import Alert FAQ adds that publication on an alert usually serves as the notice to the listed firm, so nobody is going to call you.
With ten or fifty suppliers, frequent manual checks across four FDA systems add up. Monitoring turns them into an email when something changes, and a dated record when nothing has. See When to reevaluate a foreign supplier under FSVP.
How does SupplierRadar use FDA's data?
- Sources: FDA import refusals, import alerts, warning letters, inspection classifications and recalls, all public U.S. government records.
- Cadence: the sources are collected once a week, and every change is stored as a dated event.
- Matching: records are tied to a supplier by FEI first; without an FEI, by normalized name, country and city, keeping uncertain matches apart rather than merging them.
- Wording: neutral terms only (listed, refused, issued, removed), with no risk scores.
- Corrections: anyone can request a correction from a supplier page, and it is checked against the FDA source.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the FDA Data Dashboard send alerts about specific suppliers?
- No. The Dashboard's email notifications cover new features, major site updates and scheduled maintenance. FDA separately offers an Import Alerts Weekly Summary email, which covers import alert changes in general rather than suppliers you choose.
- Is the FDA Data Dashboard free?
- Yes. The web dashboards and supplier search are free and need no login. The Dashboard API is also free but requires credentials requested through FDA's OII Unified Logon.
- How often is the FDA Data Dashboard updated?
- FDA states that the Dashboard datasets are updated weekly and include only final actions. FDA's import alert pages are updated in real time.
- Does SupplierRadar have data FDA does not?
- No. SupplierRadar uses only FDA's public records. What it adds is the combination of all five record types on one page per supplier, the history of changes over time, and alerts and documents for the suppliers you watch.
- Can I rely on SupplierRadar instead of checking FDA's sources?
- SupplierRadar links each event to its FDA record so you can confirm it. FDA's pages are authoritative, public records may contain errors, and the importer remains responsible for its supplier evaluation.
Sources
Every legal and FDA-process claim above is cited to a primary source. Access dates show when each page was read.
- 01FDA Data Dashboard: Import RefusalsFDA · accessed
- 02FDA Data Dashboard: Inspections ClassificationFDA · accessed
- 03FDA Data Dashboard: Firm/Supplier Evaluation ResourcesFDA · accessed
- 04FDA Data Dashboard: NotificationsFDA · accessed
- 05FDA Data Dashboard API documentationFDA · accessed
- 06FDA: Import AlertsFDA · accessed
- 07FDA: Warning LettersFDA · accessed
- 08openFDA: Food enforcement reports APIFDA · accessed
- 09openFDA: Authentication and rate limitsFDA · accessed
- 10FDA FSVP Guidance for Industry (January 2023), Questions E.9 and E.13FDA · accessed
- 11FDA: Industry FAQs for Import AlertsFDA · accessed
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SupplierRadar is not affiliated with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Data comes from public FDA records and may contain errors. This is not legal advice; importers remain responsible for their supplier evaluations.