FD&C Act §607 (MoCRA)

FDA U.S. Agent for cosmetic facilitys in France

A cosmetic facility in France that exports to the United States must register with FDA and name a U.S. Agent located in the U.S. (FD&C Act §607 (MoCRA)). In the 12 months from 2025-10 to 2026-09, FDA refused 408 import lines from France, and 30 FDA import alerts list firms from France.

FDA data for France

Figures from FDA public data, retrieved 2026-10-21. Recall counts are by the recalling firm's country.

Import refusals, 2025-10 to 2026-09

Refused import lines	408
Refusals citing registration or listing problems	NOT LISTED-118 · 169 FRNMFGREG-3280 · 108 LISTERIA-295 · 39

Most refused product industries

Code		Count
53	Cosmetics	58

Most common refusal charges

Code	Count
NOT LISTED-118 The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act in that it appears to be misbranded as defined in section 502(o) of the FD&C Act. Based on the information…	169
UNAPPROVED-75 The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be a new drug within the meaning of Section 201(p) without an approved New Drug Application (NDA).	163
FRNMFGREG-3280 The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be misbranded as defined in section 502(o) of the FD&C Act. Based on information available to FDA, i…	108
NO PMA-237 The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that the device appears to be a Class III device and does not appear to have in effect an approved application for prem…	51
LISTERIA-295 The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3), in that the article appears to contain Listeria monocytogenes, a poisonous and deleterious substance, which may render it…	39

Import alerts listing France firms

Import alerts that list at least one firm in France: 30. Recently updated:

Import Alert 45-02: Detention Without Physical Examination and Guidance of Foods Containing Illegal and/or Undeclared Colors.
Import Alert 99-08: Detention without Physical Examination of Processed Human and Animal Foods for Pesticides
Import Alert 99-19: Detention Without Physical Examination of Food Products Due to the Presence of Salmonella
Import Alert 89-04: Detention Without Physical Examination of Devices from Firms that Have not met Device Quality System Requirements
Import Alert 99-32: Detention Without Physical Examination of Human and Animal Food Products from Foreign Establishments Refusing FDA Inspection
Import Alert 89-08: Detention Without Physical Examination of Devices without Approved PMA's or IDE's and Other Devices Not Substantially Equivalent or Without a 510(k)

What the rule requires

Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), foreign facilities that manufacture or process cosmetic products for U.S. distribution must register with FDA and include the name and contact details of a U.S. Agent. Registrations are renewed every two years, and product listings are updated every year.

Foreign facilities that manufacture or process cosmetic products distributed in the U.S.
Small businesses as defined in FD&C Act §612 may be exempt; check before assuming

Deadlines

Register new facilities within 60 days of starting to manufacture or process cosmetics for the U.S.
Renew every 2 years
Update product listings annually

Steps

Get a FEI number for the facility if you don't have one
Prepare facility, responsible person and product category data
Submit through FDA's Cosmetics Direct portal (or SPL)
Name the U.S. Agent with their contact details
Keep your facility registration number for product listings

Common mistakes

Confusing the "responsible person" (on the label) with the U.S. Agent
Missing the biennial renewal
Selling or buying "MoCRA certificates": FDA does not issue them

How US Agent Desk helps

We serve as your U.S. Agent, prepare the registration data in your language for your company's officer to submit, confirm the designation when FDA asks, and check FDA's public records for your company every morning. Prices start at $990 per year.

Check if you need a U.S. Agent See prices

Sources

Independent private service. Not affiliated with the U.S. FDA. Not legal advice.