The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced it has finalized a “molluscan shellfish equivalence determination” for both Spain and the Netherlands, opening up shellfish trade with both countries for the first time in a decade.
The equivalence determination was reached through a multi-year review by the FDA of the two countries’ shellfish safety controls. The review, according to a post in the federal register, has determined that the safety controls imposed in Spain and the Netherlands are comparable to safety measures used by the FDA, which in turn opens the two countries to exporting raw shellfish to the U.S.
The determination became final on 24 September.
“Today we’re making a wider selection of healthy and safe seafood options available to the American consumer from Europe,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas said. “Americans can be confident in the equivalence determination that Spain and the Netherlands have implemented safety controls that are equivalent to ours, thereby enabling us to allow Spain and the Netherlands to export raw molluscan shellfish to the U.S. The FDA is committed to keeping consumers safe and ensuring the safety of our food supply, and that includes seafood, whether it is imported or harvested domestically.”
The equivalence determination was also made by the European Commission, which opens up the E.U. to importation of certain raw and processed molluscan shellfish – such as mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops – from the U.S. The initial determination allows the importation of the products from the states of Massachusetts and Washington.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that will resume trade in shellfish between the U.S. and the E.U. for the first time since 2010. These actions reflect key strategic international engagement and several years of careful review by the FDA on behalf of consumers at home and abroad,” FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs Anna Abram said. “Today we’re helping unlock economic opportunity by creating a path forward to new market access for U.S. exporters.”
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