More than a dozen additional questions have been incorporated into the RFR programme in the form of a ‘Rational Questionnaire’, including whether or not the reportable food underwent treatment to reduce the presence of potentially lethal microorganisms.
It was initially implemented as an electronic system for collecting, submitting and processing information on reportable food products – those for which there is reasonable probability that consumption or exposure will cause health consequences or death.
The US food industry is required by law to input reportable food information via the RFR, however, figures from within the sector will not be initially obliged to complete the new sections.
The FDA hopes that through the update, the RFR will provide a better tool through which it can better track food safety patterns across the US and make targeted inspections.
Target inspection resources
“FDA brings online a new Reportable Food Registry (RFR) Rational Questionnaire which incorporates additional data elements as part of an effort to improve the RFR’s information gathering capability,” said a statement from the FDA.
Food industry stakeholders, including processors, packagers and distributors will be required to provide information including the reason the food has been determined to be reportable and a description of the root cause of the reportable food once the FDA makes it mandatory later this year.
The update also provides the industry the means to outline any corrective actions that have so far been taken to avoid a repeat of the reportable event.
“By gathering and analysing the new data, FDA will improve its ability to track patterns of adulteration in human food and animal feed (including pet food) and to target its inspection resources,” said an FDA statement.
Early warning system
Data collected using the RFR has proved useful to the FDA since its introduction in 2007. According to the FDA, the Registry has helped increase the speed with which the FDA investigates reports and takes appropriate action, including the removal of reportable food from the market.
“By providing early warning about potential public-health risks from reportable foods, the Registry increased the speed with which the FDA, its state- and local-level partners, and industry could remove hazards from the marketplace. The Agency also can use the data to target inspections, plan work, identify and prioritise risks and develop guidance for industry on how to strengthen preventive controls,” said FDA deputy commissioner for foods Michael Taylor.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025). In parallel with the nation's progress in international economic integration, bilateral seafood trade has followed a remarkably impressive growth trajectory, expanding from an initial scale of just tens of millions of US dollars to nearly $2 billion annually. This growth has positioned the United States as Vietnam’s largest seafood export market for many consecutive years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.
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