(a) Accreditation bodies. Any accreditation body seeking recognition from FDA to accredit third-party certification bodies to conduct food safety audits and to issue food and facility certifications under this subpart.

(b) Third-party certification bodies. Any third-party certification body seeking accreditation from a recognized accreditation body or direct accreditation by FDA for:

(1) Conducting food safety audits; and

(2) Issuing certifications that may be used in satisfying a condition of admissibility of an article of food under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act; or issuing a facility certification for meeting the eligibility requirements for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program under section 806 of the FD&C Act.

(c) Eligible entities. Any eligible entity seeking a food safety audit or a food or facility certification from an accredited third-party certification body under this subpart.

(d) Limited exemptions from section 801(q) of the FD&C Act—(1) Alcoholic beverages. (i) Any certification required under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act does not apply with respect to alcoholic beverages from an eligible entity that is a facility that meets the following two conditions:

(A) Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.) or chapter 51 of subtitle E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 5001 et seq.), the facility is a foreign facility of a type that, if it were a domestic facility, would require obtaining a permit from, registering with, or obtaining approval of a notice or application from the Secretary of the Treasury as a condition of doing business in the United States; and

(B) Under section 415 of the FD&C Act, the facility is required to register as a facility because it is engaged in manufacturing/processing one or more alcoholic beverages.

(ii) Any certification required under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act does not apply with respect to food that is not an alcoholic beverage that is received and distributed by a facility described in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section, provided such food:

(A) Is received and distributed in prepackaged form that prevents any direct human contact with such food; and

(B) Constitutes not more than 5 percent of the overall sales of the facility, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.

(iii) Any certification required under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act does not apply with respect to raw materials or other ingredients that are imported for use in alcoholic beverages provided that:

(A) The imported raw materials or other ingredients are used in the manufacturing/processing, packing, or holding of alcoholic beverages;

(B) Such manufacturing/processing, packing, or holding is performed by the importer;

(C) The importer is required to register under section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and

(D) The importer is exempt from the regulations in part 117 of this chapter in accordance with § 117.5(i).

(2) Certain meat, poultry, and egg products. Any certification required under section 801(q) of the FD&C Act does not apply with respect to:

(i) Meat food products that at the time of importation are subject to the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.);

(ii) Poultry products that at the time of importation are subject to the requirements of the USDA under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq.); and

(iii) Egg products that at the time of importation are subject to the requirements of the USDA under the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 1031 et seq.).