FSIS maintains and publicly updates its list of approved foreign establishments on an ongoing basis. Establishments can be added, suspended, or removed based on audit findings or changes in a country's equivalence status. Importers should verify establishment approval status immediately before each shipment, not just at the time of initial supplier qualification.

Each lot within a shipment must be traceable to a specific FSIS-approved foreign establishment, and the import inspection certificate must identify the establishment number. Commingling product from unapproved or unidentified establishments is grounds for refusal. Importers should require establishment-level documentation from suppliers before consolidating loads.