Newly introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure foreign shrimp production matches American safety standards.
“Growing up on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, I know how important the shrimp industry is – not just to our economy but to our way of life,” U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (R-Mississippi) said in a statement. “Our local Gulf Coast shrimpers are playing by the rules while foreign producers are flooding the market with unsafe, low-quality products. This bill is about leveling the playing field, protecting our American producers, and keeping America healthy.”
If passed, The Safer Shrimp Imports Act would introduce an equivalency standard for foreign shrimp producers, similar to that enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for catfish and pangasius imports.
The legislation would require the FDA to ensure foreign shrimp producers operate an equivalent food inspection system to that of the United States. Alternatively, foreign producers can sign an agreement with the FDA to facilitate an inspection of their facilities. Any shrimp imported into the U.S. that is not from ...
