Topics:
Searching for an FDA Product Code, using portions of the Product Name or Product Code
Building an FDA Product Code from its Component Parts
The FDA Product Code describes a product or a group of products. Use the Common Name to specify the product further than the definition corresponding with the Product Code.
If the product has more than one name (e.g., a fish known under several regional names), the Product Code may have several different synonymous definitions associated with it. The FDA Product Code is a seven-character alphanumeric string composed of five components, the Product Industry Code, the Class Code, the Subclass Code, the Process Indicator Code, and the Group Code.
For more in-depth information about the FDA Product Code, see Lessons 1, 3 and 4 of the FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) Product Code Builder Tutorial (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ora/pcb/tutorial/tutorial.cfm).
An example of a complete 7-character Product Code for the canned clam chowder follows, including definitions of its component parts:
Product Code:
16WEE14
Product Name:
CHOWDER/SOUP/STEW/BISQUE, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, METAL, COMMERCIALLY STERILE
Product Industry Code: a two-character string that represents the industry to which the product belongs. In our example:
16 - FISHERY/SEAFOOD PROD
Class Code: a one-character string that further classifies the product within an industry. In our example:
W - MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS
Subclass Code (Packaging Method): a one-character string that represents the packaging method. Although called the subclass, this portion of the code has no relation to the Product's Class. Each Product Industry has an associated set of Subclasses. In our example:
E - METAL
Process Indicator Code (Process Applied): a one-character string that represents the process applied to the Product. Each Product Industry has an associated set of Process Indicator Codes (PICs). In our example:
E - COMMERCIALLY STERILE
Group Code: a two-character string that represents the specific group of Products within the Product Industry and Class. In our example:
14 - CHOWDER/SOUP/STEW/BISQUE, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS
>> Return to FDA Product Code Topics
To search for a particular Product Code using portions of the Product Name and Product Code:
In the Create Prior Notice: Article or the Edit Prior Notice: Article page, click on the Search>> button. The Find Product Code page displays, allowing you to do one of the following:
Search for Products using portions of the Product Name and Product Code.
Building the Product Code by selecting its component parts: Industry, Class, and Group. To build the Product Code, see the next topic, Building an FDA Product Code.
Enter keywords in the Product Name textbox and/or portions of the Product Code in the Industry, Class, and Group textboxes.
Click on the Search>> button.
The Find Product: Search Results page displays, listing all Products that meet your search criteria.
Click on the hyperlink
on the Product Name to continue.
Note: If no specific code for food exists, use Group Code "99",
meaning "Not Elsewhere Classified", as the Product Group. For
example, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, N.E.C.
Click on the Previous button to return to the Find Product Code page and enter other criteria (Step 2).
The Find Product: Complete Product Definition page displays, prompting you to indicate the appropriate Packaging Method and Process Applied. This completes the Product Code Definition.
Click on the Select>> button to select the Product Code for your food article. The Create Prior Notice: Article page displays, including the complete Product Code (e.g., 16WEE14) and Product Definition (e.g., CLAM CHOWDER/SOUP/STEW/BISQUE, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, METAL, COMMERCIALLY STERILE).
>> Return to FDA Product Code Topics
To search for a particular Product Code by building its component parts:
Click on the Search>> button on the Create Prior Notice: Article or the Edit Prior Notice: Article page. The Find Product Code page displays.
Begin to select the component parts of the Product Code by selecting the Product Industry (e.g., FISHERY/SEAFOOD PROD - 16) and then clicking on the Next>> button.
The Find
Product Code: Select Class page displays, listing all products
within the selected Product Industry. Select a Product Class (e.g.,
MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS - W) and then click on the Next>>
button.
Note: On the Find Product Code:
Select Class page, you may also scroll through the list and
click on the hyperlink of the desired product.
The Find
Product Code: Select Product Group page displays all Product
Groups within the Product Class. Select a Product Group by clicking on
a hyperlink in the Products column (e.g., CHOWDER/SOUP/STEW/BISQUE, MIXED
FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS).
Note: If no specific code for food exists, use Group Code "99",
meaning "Not Elsewhere Classified", as the Product Group. For
example, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, N.E.C.
The Find Product: Complete Product Definition page displays, prompting you to indicate the appropriate Packaging Method (e.g., METAL - E) and Process Applied (e.g., COMMERCIALLY STERILE - E). This completes the Product Code Definition.
Click on the Select>> button to select the Product Code for your food article. The Create Prior Notice: Article page displays, including the complete Product Code (e.g., 16WEE14) and Product Definition (e.g., CLAM CHOWDER/SOUP/STEW/BISQUE, MIXED FISHERY/SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, METAL, COMMERCIALLY STERILE).