Every business relationship eventually ends — and when your MoCRA U.S. agent representation ends, how it ends matters. A sloppy exit can leave your facility without a designated agent, with FDA correspondence going to a dead inbox. A proper exit keeps you compliant through the transition.
This article explains how cancellation and resignation work, why a facility must never be left without an agent, what happens to FDA communications during the handoff, and how to appoint a replacement.
Cancellation vs. resignation: two sides of one event
These two terms describe the same transition from different angles:
- Cancellation is the commercial side: you end your service agreement with the agent. Billing stops, and the representation relationship is terminated under the terms you agreed to.
- Resignation is the regulatory side: the agent formally steps down as your designated U.S. agent in FDA’s records, so the agency no longer lists them as your contact.
Both halves matter. A cancellation without a resignation leaves FDA pointing at an agent who no longer works for you. A resignation without a clear cancellation leaves billing and contractual loose ends. A professional agent handles both, in writing.
How cancellation works with US MoCRA Agent
Our process is deliberately simple:
- Cancel anytime. You can end the service whenever you choose — there is no lock-in period and no cancellation penalty.
- The paid month runs out. Cancelling stops the next charge. The month you’ve already paid for continues to the end of its billing period, and you remain fully represented during that time.
- A formal resignation is filed. At the end of the paid period, we formally resign as your U.S. agent through the appropriate FDA channel, so the agency’s records reflect that we no longer represent your facility.
- You get written confirmation. The resignation is documented — you’ll have a record showing exactly when our representation ended.
What we will never do is silently abandon your registration. Some providers, when a customer stops paying, simply stop answering emails and leave the facility listed under their name indefinitely — or worse, leave FDA sending notices to an inbox nobody reads. We consider that unacceptable. Every representation ends with a formal, documented resignation.
The same discipline applies to failed payments. If a subscription payment fails, our dunning process gives you notice and a chance to fix it before anything changes — representation is never dropped without warning, and never without the formal resignation step.
Why a facility must never be left without an agent
Under MoCRA, a foreign facility must have a U.S. agent designated in its facility registration. This isn’t optional paperwork — the agent is FDA’s official point of contact for your establishment. Operating without one is a compliance gap, and the practical consequences are immediate:
- FDA communications have nowhere to go. Inspection notifications, requests for information, and enforcement correspondence are directed to the agent on record. Without an agent, these may not reach you at all.
- Renewal reminders go to the agent’s email. Facility registrations must be renewed biennially. The automated reminders FDA sends go to the U.S. agent’s address on file — during a gap, nobody receives them, and a missed renewal can put your registration out of standing.
- Business continuity is at risk. U.S. importers, distributors, and retail partners increasingly ask for proof of current facility registration. A registration in limbo during an agent gap creates awkward questions at exactly the wrong time.
The bottom line: plan your exit the same way you’d plan any critical vendor transition — with the replacement lined up before the old arrangement ends.
What happens to FDA communications during the transition
This is the question that worries facility owners most, and rightly so. Here’s how the handoff works when it’s done properly:
Before the resignation takes effect, your outgoing agent remains the contact on record. Any FDA correspondence arriving during this window is still their responsibility to receive and forward to you. That’s one reason the paid month runs out rather than cutting off mid-day — there’s a defined period where responsibility is unambiguous.
At the point of resignation, FDA’s records are updated to reflect that the agent has stepped down. From that moment, the agency no longer directs new correspondence to them.
After resignation, correspondence follows whoever is next designated on your registration. This is why the single most important step in any transition is:
Appoint your replacement agent BEFORE the old agent’s resignation takes effect.
If the new agent’s amended registration (naming them as your U.S. agent) is filed and accepted before the old agent resigns, there is continuous coverage — FDA always has a live contact for your facility. If the resignation lands first and the new designation comes later, you have a gap, with all the risks described above.
A professional outgoing agent will also forward any stray correspondence that arrives shortly after the transition, as a courtesy. Ask for this explicitly when you cancel — and get the commitment in writing.
How to appoint a replacement agent
Appointing a new agent is the mirror image of the original designation:
- Choose your new agent and confirm their service terms, pricing, and what’s included (facility registration support, renewals, correspondence forwarding).
- Sign their authorization. The incoming agent will need your written authorization to act on your facility’s behalf.
- Provide your FEI number and current registration details so the agent can prepare an accurate amended filing.
- Review and approve the filing contents in writing before anything is submitted. The amended registration becomes part of your official FDA record.
- The new agent files an amended facility registration through Cosmetics Direct, updating the U.S. agent contact information to their own details.
Once that amended filing is accepted, the new agent is your designated contact. The old agent’s resignation then closes out the previous relationship cleanly.
Note: FDA does not issue registration certificates — not for original registrations, not for amendments, and not for resignations. Your documentation for each step is the accepted submission record (Submission ID). Treat any “certificate” offered in connection with an agent change as a red flag.
Special case: what if your agent disappears?
Sometimes the transition isn’t orderly — an agent goes out of business, stops responding, or simply vanishes. In that case:
- Don’t wait for them. You don’t need the old agent’s cooperation to appoint a new one. The amended registration naming your new agent is filed by the incoming agent, and it takes effect on acceptance regardless of what the old agent does or doesn’t do.
- Document your attempts to reach them. Keep records of unanswered emails and calls. If questions ever arise about the transition timeline, this paper trail shows you acted diligently.
- Move fast on the replacement. Every week without a responsive agent is a week FDA correspondence may be going unread.
Our commitment when you leave
We’d rather keep your business by earning it, but if you decide to move on, here’s exactly what happens:
- No cancellation fees, no lock-in, no retention maze. Cancel through the normal process and the next charge simply doesn’t happen.
- Full representation through the end of your paid month.
- A formal, documented resignation filed with FDA — never a silent abandonment.
- Written confirmation of the resignation for your records.
- Cooperation with your incoming agent during the transition, including forwarding any correspondence that arrives in the handoff window.
US MoCRA Agent is a private service provider and is not affiliated with the FDA. Questions about cancellation or resignation: usmocra@outlook.com · +1 909-997-0000 · pricing.
Frequently asked questions
If I cancel, do I get a refund for the current month?
No. Cancelling stops the next charge; the month you’ve already paid for runs to the end of its billing period, and you stay fully represented during that time. Paid subscription months are non-refundable — this is stated in our refund and cancellation terms.
What exactly does the agent’s “formal resignation” involve?
The agent formally steps down as your designated U.S. agent through the appropriate FDA channel and documents it in writing to you, so the agency’s records no longer list them as your contact. The key point: it is an affirmative, documented act — not simply stopping work. Always get written confirmation of the resignation date for your records.
Can I appoint a new agent before cancelling the old one?
Yes — and you should. This is the recommended sequence: sign authorization with the new agent, have them prepare and file the amended registration naming them as your U.S. agent, and only then let the old agent’s resignation take effect. This keeps continuous coverage with no gap in representation.
What happens to my biennial renewal if I switch agents mid-cycle?
Nothing is disrupted as long as there’s no gap in representation. Your renewal schedule is tied to your facility registration, not to your agent — it doesn’t restart or shift when you change agents. Just make sure your new agent has your renewal date on file (it’s included in our post-filing packet) so the renewal filing happens on time.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. US MoCRA Agent is a private service provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FDA. Regulatory details are based on FDA’s published guidance and are current as of September 2026; always verify requirements against FDA’s official sources before acting.