US FDA Facility Registration: Indonesian Seafood 2026 Guide

A practical, deadline-driven playbook for Indonesian seafood facilities to change their FDA U.S. Agent before the 2026 biennial renewal. Exact FURLS steps, acceptance workflow, timelines, and how to handle unresponsive agents.

If you export seafood to the U.S., you already know one thing the FDA never compromises on. A foreign facility must have a U.S. Agent, and that agent must accept the role inside FDA Industry Systems. We’ve helped facilities switch agents and complete renewals in as little as 48 hours. The difference between a clean change and a blocked renewal is almost always preparation and timing.

Here’s our 2026-ready playbook for Indonesian processors to change FDA U.S. Agent quickly, verify acceptance, and walk into the Oct–Dec renewal window without drama.

The 3 pillars of a fast, clean U.S. Agent change

• Prepared data. Exact legal names, matching DUNS for the facility, and the new agent’s full contact info. No placeholders. No nicknames.
• Confirmed acceptance. Your new agent must accept electronically in the FURLS food facility portal. No acceptance means no completed update.
• Early dry run. Make the agent change long before the 2026 biennial renewal opens. We recommend finishing the switch by September 2026.

In our experience, when those three are in place, the update is painless. When any one is missing, the system can stall for days or weeks.

Week 1–2: Prep and validation

Start by collecting what FURLS will ask for and what tends to trip teams up.

• Facility details that match your current FDA registration. Facility name, full physical address, owner/operator, and DUNS as your Unique Facility Identifier. The UFI must match D&B exactly, including commas and “PT” or “CV.”
• New U.S. Agent details. Legal entity name, full U.S. address, phone, 24/7 emergency phone, and email tied to a FURLS account. Ask the agent which email they use in FURLS.
• Internal authorization. FDA doesn’t require an upload, but many agents ask for a simple Letter of Authorization on company letterhead. Have it ready to avoid back-and-forth.

Pitfall we see often. The facility has the correct DUNS, but the registration shows an older address format. Update the DUNS first if needed, then mirror it in FURLS so the 2026 renewal passes validation without flags.

Can my importer or customs broker serve as the U.S. Agent?

Yes, if they are located in the U.S. and agree to be the point of contact for FDA. Just remember this is not the same as the FSVP importer role. One company can be both, but they take on different responsibilities. Many brokers decline the agent role because of 24/7 contact expectations. Clarify scope and fees up front.

Week 3–6: Execute the change in FURLS

Once you have the data and the new agent is ready to accept quickly, take these steps.

1. Log in to FDA Industry Systems. Go to the Food Facility Registration module. Select your active registration.

2. Choose Update Registration. Navigate to the U.S. Agent section.

3. Enter the new agent’s details. Use their FURLS email and verify the 24/7 emergency contact number. Save and continue.

4. Submit the update. The system sends an automated email to the new agent asking them to accept the appointment.

5. Have the agent accept the same day. They log in to their own FURLS account and accept the role. If they didn’t receive the email, they can still find the pending request after login. Ask them to check spam and whitelist fda.gov. You can also resend the agent request from your registration.

6. Confirm acceptance on your side. Reopen your registration and verify the U.S. Agent shows as Accepted, not Pending. Save a PDF of the confirmation page for your records and for buyer due diligence.

Here’s the thing. You don’t need any action from your old agent. Once the new agent accepts, the system replaces the old one automatically.

Do I need to wait for agent acceptance before submitting the 2026 renewal?

Yes. For foreign facilities, a confirmed U.S. Agent is mandatory. If the agent is marked Pending, the system will block you from completing the biennial renewal.

How long does the new agent have to accept, and what if they don’t?

There isn’t a fixed regulatory deadline, but your renewal can’t complete without acceptance. We aim for acceptance within 24–72 hours. If the email isn’t arriving, have the agent log in directly to FURLS and check for pending requests. You can resend the invitation or re-enter the agent email if it was misspelled. If they still don’t accept, appoint a different agent. Don’t let a stalled acceptance run into late December.

What if my previous U.S. Agent is unresponsive or refuses to release my registration?

You can replace them without their permission. The old agent’s consent is not required. The only time you’ll need extra help is if you can’t access your FURLS account or you don’t know your current registration number. In that case, work with FDA Industry Systems Help Desk to recover access. This can take several business days, so start early.

Need a hand with a blocked acceptance or recovering an account? In tricky cases, we’ve coordinated timelines with buyers and agents to keep shipments moving. If you want us to sanity-check your plan, Contact us on whatsapp.

Week 7–12: Renewal readiness and optimization

Use this period to get renewal-proof.

• Verify all sections match reality. Owner/operator, product categories, and activity types. If you added new forms like IQF portions such as Grouper Bites (Portion Cut) or new tuna formats, reflect that in your activity profile.
• Lock your DUNS details. The facility name and address must match your D&B record. We’ve seen minor punctuation mismatches trigger manual reviews.
• Keep proof ready. Buyers and importers often request your registration confirmation PDF showing Accepted U.S. Agent. When you sell items like Grouper Fillet (IQF) or Yellowfin Steak into U.S. retail and foodservice, a clean document set accelerates their onboarding.

Timelines we see. A straightforward agent change takes one to three business days if everyone is responsive. If you also need FURLS account recovery or UFI corrections, plan two to three weeks.

The 5 biggest mistakes that kill renewals

1. Waiting until December to change your U.S. Agent. Acceptance stalls are common during the rush. Make the switch by September 2026.

2. Using the wrong agent email. The invitation sits in limbo because it went to an unmonitored inbox. Confirm the exact FURLS email with your agent.

3. Treating the U.S. Agent like the FSVP importer. They’re different roles. Don’t assume your importer will accept the agent responsibility.

4. DUNS mismatch. The facility name in FURLS doesn’t match the D&B entry. Fix DUNS first, then update the registration.

5. No 24/7 emergency contact. The agent must provide a reachable number. FDA expects it, and some agents won’t accept without it.

Quick answers we get all the time

Will changing the U.S. Agent affect my FDA registration number or status?

Your FDA registration number stays the same. Your status stays Active as long as you complete the 2026 renewal on time and the agent shows Accepted.

Do I need a signed authorization letter to appoint a new U.S. Agent?

FDA doesn’t require you to upload one. Many agents require a simple Letter of Authorization to protect both sides. We recommend preparing it.

What does it cost to change the U.S. Agent?

FDA charges no fee to update your registration. U.S. Agent service fees vary widely. We see a range from a few hundred dollars per year for basic representation to several thousand if they bundle compliance support.

How do I fix “agent acceptance email not received”?

Verify the agent email in your update. Resend the invitation. Ask the agent to log in to FURLS to accept without the email link. Whitelist fda.gov. If nothing works, re-enter the agent details or appoint a different agent.

What about change of ownership?

That is a different process. A change in the facility owner usually requires a new registration rather than an update. Plan extra lead time.

Resources and next steps

• Work the change now. Don’t wait for October. Replace your agent and get Accepted status locked in before renewal season.
• Keep your spec sheets and registration confirmation ready for buyers. It speeds up U.S. onboarding for items like Mahi Mahi Fillet, Pinjalo Fillet (IQF), and Swordfish Steak (IQF).
• If you want a second set of eyes on your plan or your FURLS screenshots, View our products and loop us in on your upcoming U.S. programs. We can align specs and compliance timelines so procurement and registration move together.

The reality is simple. A clean U.S. Agent change is mostly about preparation and timing. Handle it now, get that acceptance confirmed, and the 2026 renewal becomes a box-check instead of a fire drill.