Why Just Taking the FSVP Training Alone Will Not Get You Compliant

Sep 12, 2025·By Homero Ruiz

I hear this all the time:
“I’m going to do my own FSVP program. I already signed up for the FSVP course. Once I finish it, I’ll be an expert and won’t need any help. I just want to ‘pick your brain real quick.’”

Here’s the truth: that’s not how it works.

An FSVP course by itself does not qualify you to carry out the activities required by FDA regulations. Under FDA FSMA, the Foreign Supplier Verification Program must be developed and overseen by someone with proper training and qualifications—specifically a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). That means yet another course, another level of training, and a much deeper understanding of food safety law and practice.

What happens to most DIY importers is predictable:

They take the FSVP course.
They think they’re set.
A regulator shows up, asks for documentation, and they freeze or say something silly.
Tempers flare, panic sets in, and now they’re in hot water with FDA.

By the time we get involved, it’s usually after a warning letter, a bad inspection, a 483 citation, or pressure from their customers who are threatening to cut ties because they didn’t invest the necessary resources to comply with the law.

This isn’t scare-mongering, it’s reality. FSVP compliance is not a “check-the-box” exercise. It’s a detailed, ongoing program that gets scrutinized by regulators, and it will make or break your business relationships.

If you’re serious about importing food, you need to:

Enroll in the right courses, not just FSVP but PCQI training.
Complete the required activities (supplier evaluations, hazard analyses, verification, recordkeeping).
Put in the time and effort to build a legitimate program.

Once you see how much goes into it, you’ll probably realize what most serious companies do: you need a professional. A seasoned consultant will not only keep you compliant but will save you from costly mistakes that can tank your business.

Bottom line: Don’t skimp out. FSVP is not something you DIY over a weekend. Do it right from the start, or pay much more dearly later when regulators and customers come down on you.

Ready to Do It Right?
At FSVP Advisors, we specialize in helping importers avoid the mistakes that sink businesses. We don’t sell courses, swindle companies into subcriptions, nor push unnecessary and expensive software. We build programs that stand up to FDA scrutiny and keep your customers confident in your compliance.

- Homero Ruiz, REHS/RS, PCQI