Ultimate aim of USDA catfish regulation is to block tilapia imports, says John Connelly at WSC

(seafood.com) At the World Seafood

The current USDA rule making has not been completed, with fierce arguments being made within the administration on the scope of powers over seafood that USDA should assume.

The law granting USDA power to regulate catfish also gave the agency the authority to broaden the scope of its regulation to similar species.

Speaking to the conference yesterday, John Connelly said that if the USDA equivalent inspection plan came into being, it would likely not stop at catfish, but would be used by domestic producers to restrict imports of pangasius and tilapia and perhaps other fish as well.

Connelly also said the move was quite likely illegal under US treaties and WTO rules, as well as being expensive and unwieldy.

Connelly did not speculate on when the USDA might once again try and issue a final rule. The process has been on hold due to budget constraints and political opposition.


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