Guide
How to find a supplier's FDA FEI number
Updated 6 min read6 primary sources
An FEI (FDA Establishment Identifier) is the number FDA's systems assign to identify a firm. To find a foreign supplier's FEI, search the firm's name on the FDA Data Dashboard's Firm/Supplier Evaluation Resources page or in its import refusal and inspection data, which show the FEI for each firm, or log in to FDA's FEI Search Portal and search by firm name and physical address; the supplier can also give it to you directly.
Key facts
- FEI means
- FDA Establishment Identifier (also Firm Establishment Identifier)
- Assigned by
- FDA systems; one surviving FEI per firm after merges
- FEI Search Portal
- Account required; up to 50 searches per hour
- No-login option
- FDA Data Dashboard firm search (firms with compliance records)
- Not the same as
- DUNS, the identifier FSVP importers give at entry
What is an FEI number?
FDA's FEI Portal FAQ defines the FEI as an FDA system generated number used to identify a firm, and gives both names: FDA Establishment Identifier and Firm Establishment Identifier. FDA uses it across its records, so the same FEI appears on a firm's import refusals, inspection classifications and Data Dashboard firm profile.
Each location is its own firm in FDA's systems. FDA's supplier evaluation page notes that each location displays a separate firm profile, so a supplier with two plants has two FEIs.
Where can you look up a supplier's FEI?
| Method | Login | Search by | What you get | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA FEI Search Portal | FDA account required | FEI, or firm name and physical address | FEI, name, physical address and mailing address | Up to 50 searches an hour; some FEIs are not releasable |
| FDA Data Dashboard, Firm/Supplier Evaluation Resources | None | All or part of the firm name, or FEI | Matching firms with FEI links to firm profiles | Only firms with compliance records (inspections, compliance actions, recalls, import refusals or alerts) appear |
| FDA Data Dashboard import refusals and inspections data | None for the web view; the API needs credentials | Firm name, country, product | FEINumber field on each record | Refusals on or after 10/01/2016 |
| Ask the supplier | None | Not applicable | The FEI the supplier has on file with FDA | Verify it against an FDA source |
| SupplierRadar supplier pages | None | Firm name or FEI | The FEI from FDA records, in the page URL | Firms that appear in the FDA sources we collect |
Import alert pages are less useful here. Their red list entries give the firm's name, address and products, but the alert pages we checked do not show an FEI for each firm.
How do you use FDA's FEI Search Portal?
- 01
Create an account
The portal at accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/feiportal opens with a login; new users select Create Account.
- 02
Choose one search type
Search either by FEI or by firm name and physical address. The portal grays out the other option while one is in use.
- 03
Read the result
A match shows the firm's FEI, name, physical address and mailing address.
- 04
Try the address
FDA notes that an FEI can change even when the name and address stay the same, so a name and address search returns the current FEI.
Why can one supplier have several FEI numbers?
FDA's FAQ explains that its systems occasionally create several records for one firm. After evaluation, FDA merges them into one surviving FEI, and the others become children of it that no longer identify the firm. FDA's Data Dashboard warns of the same effect: if results differ from your search, the firm name or FEI was merged with one in the results. When records disagree, use the surviving FEI shown on the current firm profile.
What if no FEI turns up?
- The FEI is linked to personally identifiable information, or a law or regulation prevents its release.
- The firm at that address has not yet been assigned an FEI.
- The firm has changed its name or address, which makes the search harder.
Those are the reasons FDA gives. A firm, or someone representing it, can request an FEI from feiportal@fda.hhs.gov with the firm's legal name, any other names it uses, its physical and mailing addresses, a contact person, the activities at that location and any related FDA registration numbers. For a supplier you buy from, it is usually faster to ask the supplier.
No match on the Data Dashboard's supplier search also carries information: FDA says it indicates that no applicable compliance records are present for the firm. For an FSVP file, record that result with the date you searched.
Is an FEI the same as a DUNS number for FSVP?
No. For each line entry of food, 21 CFR 1.509(a) requires the FSVP importer's name, email address and a unique facility identifier recognized as acceptable by FDA. FDA recognizes the DUNS number for that purpose, and since July 24, 2022 it no longer accepts the placeholder code UNK. That DUNS identifies you, the importer. The FEI identifies the foreign firm in FDA's records, which is the number you want for checking a supplier's history.
Why does the FEI matter when you monitor a supplier?
Supplier names are spelled many ways across FDA datasets, and two different firms can share a similar name. The FEI is the most reliable key for matching a supplier's refusals, inspections and other records to the right firm. SupplierRadar matches records by FEI first and uses the FEI in each supplier page address. When a record has no FEI, as import alert entries usually do not, the match relies on name, country and city, so check the address on the FDA source.
Frequently asked questions
- What does FEI stand for at FDA?
- FEI stands for FDA Establishment Identifier, also called the Firm Establishment Identifier. It is an FDA system generated number used to identify a firm associated with FDA-regulated products.
- Can I look up an FEI without an FDA account?
- Yes, for firms with FDA compliance records. The FDA Data Dashboard's Firm/Supplier Evaluation Resources page searches by firm name or FEI without a login; the FEI Search Portal itself requires an account.
- Why does my supplier have more than one FEI?
- Each location has its own FEI, and FDA's systems sometimes create duplicate records for one firm that FDA later merges into one surviving FEI. The other numbers become children of the surviving FEI.
- Is the FEI the same as the FDA food facility registration number?
- No. Food facility registration under section 415 of the FD&C Act is a separate system. The FEI is the identifier FDA uses for a firm in its inspection, compliance and import records.
- How do I request an FEI?
- FDA's FEI Portal FAQ says to email feiportal@fda.hhs.gov with the firm's legal name, other names, physical and mailing addresses, contact person, activities at the location and any related FDA registration numbers.
Sources
Every legal and FDA-process claim above is cited to a primary source. Access dates show when each page was read.
- 01FDA FEI Search Portal and FAQFDA · accessed
- 02FDA Data Dashboard: Firm/Supplier Evaluation ResourcesFDA · accessed
- 03FDA Data Dashboard API: Import Refusals field definitionsFDA · accessed
- 04FDA Data Dashboard: Import RefusalsFDA · accessed
- 0521 CFR 1.509 (eCFR)eCFR · accessed
- 06FDA: FSMA Final Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (unique facility identifier)FDA · accessed
Related
Put it into practice
Look up a supplier by name or FEI
Search any foreign food supplier on SupplierRadar to see its FEI and every FDA record tied to it in one dated timeline, each linked to the FDA source. Checking up to five suppliers is free.
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.