Bill Would Increase Inspections on Imported Seafood

A Louisiana Republican introduced a bill that would require 20 percent of imported seafood to be inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, and require that the first 15 shipments from a new exporter each be inspected. If a shipment fails any measure of inspection, the exporter would be subject to 15 consecutive inspections again. Currently, about 2 percent of imported seafood is inspected, according to Food and Water Watch.

The bill, H.R. 6212, was introduced on June 25 by Rep. Clay Higgins, with no co-sponsors. "Congressman Higgins’ focus is on protecting seafood producers on the Gulf Coast and throughout the United States from unfair trading practices, and ensuring that Americans are consuming seafood that is safe and high-quality," a spokesman from his office said.

The bill also says if a country has a pattern of failures, no seafood imports shall be allowed unless the FDA certifies that the country has an adequate program to comply with U.S. standards. Vietnam is challenging increased inspections of catfish and swai that were mandated as part of the 2014 Farm Bill. Vietnam says in its complaint at the World Trade Organization that the inspections are not based on scientific or safety reasons, but instead are a non-tariff barrier (see 1802270041).

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