Export roasted coffee from Colombia to the United States

1. Identify the product, buyer and delivery terms

The exporter prepares a specification covering ingredients, processing, whole-bean or ground presentation, net weight per package, lots, manufacturer, country of cultivation and roasting location. The buyer confirms intended use, destination state, port or airport, planned date and who will be the importer of record for CBP and the FSVP importer for FDA.

Put the Incoterm and named place, price and currency, transport and insurance arrangements and responsibility for each procedure in writing. Being the buyer, freight forwarder or customs broker does not by itself establish who fulfills the FSVP importer role.

Keep records of cultivation, purchase and processing. Selling from Colombia or writing “Colombian coffee” on an invoice does not replace applicable origin evidence. If claiming a COTPA preference, the importer must substantiate the origin rule and documentation; a shipping country alone does not establish a preferential rate.

U.S. classification: what is identified and what is missing

For the pure roasted, non-decaffeinated coffee covered by this case, USITC’s HTSUS chapter 9 identifies subheading 0901.21.00; roasted decaffeinated coffee is separately listed under 0901.22.00. We consulted 2026 Revision 20 on October 5. This reference guides classification; it is not a CBP determination for a particular shipment.

The full reporting number still requires a statistical suffix. Within 0901.21.00, the schedule distinguishes retail containers weighing 2 kg or less from other presentations; within the first group it separates Arabica, Robusta and other coffee, and distinguishes “Certified organic” status. Ask the supplier for composition and processing specifications, variety, presentation and weight per container, and certification evidence when claiming that category. Colombian coffee does not by itself establish variety or organic status. We do not select a suffix without those details.

The importer and its representative must confirm the full code and current treatment for the origin and entry date. “Free” in that subheading’s general-rate column does not by itself determine total duties and charges: additional measures, including chapter 99 where applicable, fees and transaction requirements still need review. It also does not resolve Colombian export classification or permits.

2. Complete the Colombian coffee requirements

The FNC requires National Coffee Exporter Register enrollment for exporters of green or processed coffee. Its application checklist includes a Chamber of Commerce certificate, RUT, applicant or legal representative identification, a bank certificate and power of attorney where applicable. The Chamber and bank certificates must meet the FNC’s stated maximum age of thirty days.

Owner: Colombian exporter. Obtain and retain evidence of active registration. Also confirm the roasting plant’s industry registration; hiring a roaster does not establish that this requirement has been met.

The FNC describes its Portal Cafetero for sale announcements and coffee contribution payments, and states that coffee cargo for export must be covered by a Guía de Tránsito. Coordinate with FNC/Almacafé to determine the documents, quality controls and payments applicable to this presentation and route before moving or dispatching the lot.

Exporter registration with the FNC is free according to the page reviewed. That does not make the contribution, transportation, certificates or third-party services free. The FNC publishes a roasted-coffee reference of 1.08 U.S. cents per pound (US$0.0108/lb), distinct from the 6 cents per pound for green coffee. Before budgeting the payment, confirm the assessable weight, conversion, current rule and shipment-announcement amount with FNC/Almacafé; retain the assessment and payment receipt. This reference is not the total export cost.

3. Resolve the food requirements with the buyer

• Facilities and label — manufacturer/exporter with buyer: identify the facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold the coffee and document whether FDA registration or an exemption applies. Review the U.S. market label, including English information and applicable nutrition rules. This guide does not assume a labeling exemption for this package.
• FSVP — U.S. importer: identify the responsible party and document the applicable foreign supplier verification program, or support any exemption or modified requirements. FDA defines the FSVP importer as the U.S. owner or consignee at entry; if none exists, it requires the U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner with signed consent. We do not treat roasted coffee as exempt merely because FDA discusses certain beans requiring further processing.
• Prior Notice — designated filer with importer: prepare the food and shipment details, confirm when and how to submit prior notice, and retain confirmation where required. Prior Notice and facility registration are separate controls; neither replaces cargo admission.
• Additional requirements — importer and representative: confirm agricultural admissibility, export health requirements, packaging and packing materials, and product/route-specific controls. The APHIS commercial page on generally authorized plant products points to its manuals and exceptions and retains inspection at entry. Its examples do not expressly identify roasted coffee: the rule applicable to the product, use and route still needs documentation. This reading neither confirms nor rules out a permit or phytosanitary certificate. Traveler rules are not extrapolated to commercial cargo.

2026 FDA renewal: check the facility’s renewal record

For facilities required to register, FDA set the biennial renewal period from October 1 through December 31, 2026. This includes foreign facilities subject to registration. Ask the roasting or packing facility’s responsible party to confirm whether registration is required and, where applicable, retain that facility’s renewal confirmation; a number obtained in an earlier year does not demonstrate renewal.

Updating details and renewing registration are separate actions. FDA states that it considers a registration expired if it is not renewed by the end of the period. Renew electronically through FDA Industry Systems unless FDA has granted a waiver. Also check the FDA-accepted unique facility identifier (currently DUNS) and that its address matches the registered facility.

FDA charges no registration or renewal fee; fees charged by a representative or private provider are separate. This guide does not register facilities or verify their files. Renewal confirmation also does not replace FSVP, Prior Notice, label review or shipment admission.

FDA requires importers covered by FSVP to evaluate the food and supplier, verify the supplier and take corrective action where appropriate. An invoice, freight forwarder or FDA registration alone does not demonstrate that the program is complete.

4. Assemble a file that both parties can review

This is a preparation checklist, not an exhaustive legal document list or issued document package. Use the DIAN export portal and have your representative resolve the procedure and individual requirements.

5. Request an itemized budget without treating pending costs as zero

This guide includes no goods, freight or tax amounts. To determine cash requirements, request a quote showing currency, validity, calculation basis, payer and supporting evidence for each item:

• Coffee, roasting, packaging, labels and quality controls.
• Applicable coffee contribution, export documents and procedures, with their current basis and rule.
• Colombian inland transport, departure terminal, international freight and insurance.
• U.S. duties, additional measures and fees applicable to the HTSUS, origin and entry date; customs clearance and bond where required.
• Supplier verification, labeling adjustments, testing and contracted regulatory services.
• Arrival terminal, inspection, storage, delays and final delivery, distinguishing included costs from contingent expenses.
• Payment fees, currency conversion, financing and subsequent distribution.

Included in this guide: case scope, tasks, documents and sources. Excluded: customs assessment, logistics quote, permit validation and delivered warehouse cost. COTPA alone does not establish “zero import cost”: classification, current treatment and all expenses must be checked.

To avoid double counting, mark transport, insurance or services already included in the supplier’s price under the Incoterm. An unquoted item remains pending; the total is not complete until it is resolved.

6. Before authorizing shipment

Request joint written confirmation of product/classification, coffee and facility registrations, label, FSVP owner and supporting file, admissibility and permits, Prior Notice at the applicable time, export/import documents and budget. Assign each pending item an owner and date. If a pre-shipment requirement remains unresolved, this guide does not authorize treating it as cleared.

Official sources and remaining verification

Initial reading: October 3, 2026. FNC contribution reference and APHIS commercial route added October 4, 2026. FDA biennial renewal and USITC classification guidance added October 5, 2026. The FNC is the primary source for its delegated coffee registry; FDA and CBP cover their respective U.S. controls. General pages guide preparation; they do not certify the supplier or resolve this lot.

• FNC: coffee exporter registration. Registration for green/processed coffee, application documents, free registration, Guía de Tránsito, sale announcements and coffee contribution.
• FNC: exporter and industry registry. Registration of roasting and other plants. Does not establish a particular supplier’s enrollment.
• FDA: how to start a food business. Facility registration and exemptions, imported foods, traceability and U.S. retail labeling.
• FDA: Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP). FSVP importer definition, food/supplier evaluation, verification and exemptions. Does not certify any importer.
• FDA: Prior Notice of imported foods. Official entry point for preparing Prior Notice and consulting submission requirements.
• CBP: Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (COTPA). Rules and instructions for claiming preferences. Does not verify this lot’s HTSUS, origin or duties.
• DIAN: exports. Official entry point to Salida de Mercancías and tariff consultation; no individual file or procedure was reviewed.
• FNC: coffee contribution — FoNC concepts. Published roasted-coffee reference: 1.08 U.S. cents per pound. Read October 4, 2026; does not establish an individual shipment’s assessment.
• APHIS: generally authorized non-propagative plant products. Commercial reference, manuals, exceptions and arrival inspection. Read October 4, 2026. Does not by itself identify the rule applicable to this roasted coffee.
• FDA: 2026 biennial food facility registration renewal. September 29, 2026 notice: October 1–December 31 renewal, no FDA fee, and expiration if not renewed. Read October 5, 2026. Does not establish a particular facility’s status.
• FDA: biennial registration renewal user guide. Distinguishes updating details from renewing registration and confirms the 2026 period. Read October 5, 2026; older interface screenshots do not establish a current filing.
• USITC: 2026 HTSUS Revision 20, chapter 9. Page 9-3: roasted non-decaffeinated coffee 0901.21.00 and decaffeinated distinction; suffixes by presentation, variety and organic status. Read directly on October 5, 2026. Does not determine the lot’s complete code or duties.

Pending for an actual shipment: Colombian code and U.S. statistical suffix, current duties and coffee-contribution basis, export quality/health controls, commercial agricultural admissibility, the selected supplier’s facilities/label/FSVP and quotations. The contribution reference is now identified; the individual assessment remains pending. The APHIS commercial page was readable, but no permit determination for this lot was obtained.

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