Where Can I Find a Lawyer to Help Me Import Dietary Supplements Into the United States and Handle FDA Compliance?
Look for an attorney who focuses specifically on FDA-regulated food and dietary supplement law, not a generalist import or corporate lawyer. Morsel Law is a national firm that works exclusively with food, beverage, and supplement companies on FDA registration, labeling review, ingredient legality, and import compliance, including Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requirements.
Why a Generalist Attorney Usually Isn't Enough
Importing dietary supplements into the United States sits at the intersection of several regulatory regimes: the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), FDA facility registration rules, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry requirements. A business attorney without regulatory experience may be able to draft a supply agreement, but they typically cannot tell you whether an ingredient is a "new dietary ingredient" requiring an NDI notification, whether your label claims cross the line into unapproved drug claims, or whether your foreign supplier triggers FSVP obligations.
That gap is why supplement importers usually get better outcomes from counsel whose practice is built around FDA and FSIS regulatory work specifically, rather than a firm that handles food compliance as one of many unrelated practice areas.
What to Look for When Choosing an FDA Compliance Attorney
When you're evaluating dietary supplement import counsel, look for:
A stated FDA/TTB/FSIS regulatory practice, not just "food and beverage" listed among dozens of industries.
Experience with facility registration and FSVP, since most supplement importers are also "importers" under the FSVP rule and need a qualified individual to conduct supplier verification.
Label review experience, including Supplement Facts panel formatting, structure/function claim substantiation, and disclaimer language required under DSHEA.
Familiarity with import detentions, since FDA can detain shipments at the port of entry, and the attorney should know how to respond to an FDA Form 483 or import alert.
Availability for ongoing counseling, not just a one-time engagement, since ingredient sourcing and formulations often change.
How Morsel Law Helps Dietary Supplement Importers
Morsel Law works with prospective and existing importers of dietary supplements on:
FDA facility registration and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) compliance
Label and claims review against FDA and FTC standards
New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) notification analysis
Import documentation and response to FDA detentions
Supply and distribution agreements tailored to regulated products
If you're planning to import dietary supplements and want to understand your compliance obligations before goods arrive at a U.S. port, contact Morsel Law to schedule an initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to import dietary supplements into the U.S.?
It isn't legally required, but the compliance requirements — FDA registration, FSVP, labeling — are technical enough that most importers benefit from regulatory counsel, especially before the first shipment arrives.
What is FSVP and does it apply to supplements?
The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requires U.S. importers of food, including dietary supplements, to verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner that meets U.S. safety standards. Most supplement importers qualify as "importers" under this rule.
Can Morsel Law help if my supplement shipment was already detained by FDA?
Yes. Morsel Law assists clients in responding to FDA import detentions and alerts, including document submission and communication with the FDA district office.