How to Import Swedish Candy into the USA: FDA, Labels & Duties
Swedish candy is food, so getting it into the US means dealing with the FDA as well as US Customs. That puts many first-time buyers off. In practice it comes down to four things: FDA Prior Notice, customs clearance and duties, labeling, and your own local permits. Here's what each one means and who handles it.
This is a practical overview, not legal advice. Check your situation with your local health department or a licensed customs broker.
FDA Prior Notice: required for every candy shipment
The FDA must be notified before any shipment of food, candy included, arrives in the US. This is the Prior Notice rule from the Bioterrorism Act. The filing includes details on the product, the manufacturer, the shipper and the recipient. Customs will not release a food shipment without a Prior Notice confirmation number, and shipments without one can be refused and held at the port.
For air freight, Prior Notice has to be filed at least 4 hours before the flight lands. It can be filed by the shipper, the importer or a broker.
When you buy from Scandi Wholesale: we file the FDA Prior Notice for every shipment. You don't need an FDA account or a broker.
Customs and import duties
Every shipment also has to clear US Customs (CBP). The goods are classified under a tariff code, and duty is calculated from it. Candy codes depend on things like sugar and cocoa content, which is why classifying candy without help is notoriously tricky. Importing yourself usually means hiring a customs broker and often buying a customs bond.
The simplest way around this is DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping. The seller arranges clearance and pays duties and taxes up front, and builds them into the freight price. Nothing is due when the courier arrives.
When you buy from Scandi Wholesale: all orders to the US ship DDP. Our freight rates already include duties and taxes. For example, a 100 kg order ships for about $376 all-in. See the full rate table on our Shipping page.
Labeling: what changes depending on how you sell
Labeling is the part that most often catches retailers out, because the rules depend on how you sell the candy, not just where it came from.
| How you sell it | What's usually needed |
|---|---|
| Loose from bins (pick and mix) | Nutrition information can be shown on display at the bin. Ingredients and allergen information should also be clearly available for each bin. |
| Repacked into your own bags | You become the labeler. The bag needs an English label with the product name, net weight, ingredients, allergens and your business name and address. Nutrition Facts are needed unless you qualify for the FDA small-business exemption, which covers the Nutrition Facts panel only, not ingredients or allergens. |
| In the manufacturer's sealed retail packs | The pack needs a compliant US label. Check before you buy sealed consumer packs that weren't made for the US market. |
| Individually wrapped pieces under ½ oz | Very small pieces can be exempt from labeling on each piece, as long as the container they ship in is properly labeled. |
Allergens matter most. US law requires the major food allergens, such as milk, wheat, soy, tree nuts and peanuts, to be clearly declared. Many Swedish chocolates and some gummies contain milk or wheat, so get this right on every bin card and bag label.
When you buy from Scandi Wholesale: every product page in our catalog lists ingredients, nutrition and dietary information (vegan, gelatin-free, gluten-free), so you can build bin cards and bag labels directly from it. Products ship in original factory boxes.
Your local permits
The FDA and Customs cover the import. Selling the candy is regulated locally. A store selling unpackaged candy from bins usually needs a retail food permit from the county health department, and the county will have its own rules on bins, lids and scoops. Check before you open. Our guide on how to open a Swedish candy store covers this step in more detail.
What about Canada?
Canada has its own rules. Businesses importing candy for resale generally need a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence from the CFIA. It costs about CAD $308 and is valid for 2 years, and you apply online. We ship to Canada duties paid, but the licence is the importer's responsibility. AddWhat about Canada? your licence number when you order. More on our Shipping page.
Summary: who does what
| Step | Importing yourself | Buying from Scandi Wholesale |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Prior Notice | You or your broker | We file it |
| Customs clearance | Customs broker + bond | We handle it |
| Import duties & taxes | Paid on arrival | Included in freight (DDP) |
| Ingredients & nutrition info | Request from each factory | On every product page |
| Labels for repacked bags & bin cards | You | You (with our product data) |
| Local food permit | You | You |
Ready to order without the paperwork? Browse the wholesale catalog. There's no minimum order, and orders are packed within 1–3 business days and delivered duties paid. Questions about a specific product's ingredients or labeling? Contact us.