House Ag Committee Votes to Repeal USDA Catfish Inspection

News 12:25 27/05/2013 495

The House Agriculture Committee voted to repeal a controversial catfish inspection program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture late Wednesday night – a sign the program, which was mandated by the 2008 farm bill to help protect U.S. catfish farmers from cheap imports, may be headed for the chopping block.

In the last attempt at the farm bill last summer, the Senate moved to repeal the USDA program, but the House version had sought to renew the program, against the recommendation of the Government Accountability Office, which has deemed the inspection scheme wasteful and duplicative. The White House has also come out in favor of cutting the program.

During the late night farm bill markup, the House Agriculture Committee voted 31-15 for an amendment introduced by Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-MO) to strip catfish inspection from USDA, which would move the fish back under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency that oversees the safety of all other seafood products.

It’s not clear whether the program will ultimately be repealed in the final farm bill. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have introduced a similar measure in the Senate, but it would need to be introduced as an amendment when the bill is considered by the full Senate, which will likely be next week.

On Thursday the National Fisheries Institute, a broad-based seafood industry group, praised the House agriculture panel for voting to nix the catfish inspection program at USDA.

“The committee chose sound fiscal policy and a commitment to grow rural economies by protecting trading opportunities in export markets for American farm products,” said Gavin Gibbons, a spokesman for NFI. “We look forward to a Farm Bill, signed into law by the President, that reflects the Committee’s action on repealing this program.”

On Thursday, the USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, told a Senate subcommittee for agriculture appropriations that the Food Safety and Inspection Service is planning to release a final rule on catfish inspection, which has been delayed for years, by Oct 1.

“The catfish industry is very important in deep South states,” said Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), when inquiring about the status of the program in the hearing on Thursday.

“I know how important this is for you and the producers in your state,” said Dr. Hagen. “I think this has turned out to be more complicated than we thought it would be. I am committed to getting a final rule out by the end of the fiscal year…our staff knows this is a priority.”

Sen. Cochran thanked Dr. Hagen and said, “We appreciate your good efforts.”

Cochran, who represents the number one catfish producing state, has long urged the USDA to move forward on developing an inspection program (the USDA has yet to inspect any catfish since the 2008 farm bill granted it jurisdiction over the fish). The idea was to hold the flood of imported fish from southeast Asia to the same health and quality standards as U.S.-grown catfish.

But the GAO has sharply questioned whether the USDA inspection program would improve food safety, pointing out that federal regulators are using “outdated and limited” information in their risk assessment, upon which the inspection program would be based. In their risk assessment, FSIS identified just one outbreak of Salmonella (in 1991), but the incident “was not clearly linked to catfish.” According to GAO, no catfish-linked Salmonella outbreaks have happened since.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other federal agencies have argued that it is more likely that chemical and drug residues in farm raised catfish are potential hazards, but, according to GAO, the White House Office of Management and Budget told FSIS that Salmonella was the most practical hazard to evaluate because of the strong data on Salmonella-linked deaths and illnesses in the United States.

A spokesman for FSIS told Food Safety News last month that the agency currently has a “core staff” of four people working on “further policy development in anticipation of potential implementation of the catfish inspection program,” but since developing a proposed rule in 2011 the Office of Catfish Inspection has been folded into other program areas.

According to GAO, between 2009 and 2011, FSIS spent $15.4 million on developing the program and was expected to spend an additional $4.4 million last fiscal year.

Bạn đang đọc bài viết House Ag Committee Votes to Repeal USDA Catfish Inspection tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Addressing the IUU “Yellow Card” in Ca Mau: Digitalizing Data and Tightening Fishing Vessel Management

| 14:53 08/09/2026

(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Vietnam emerges as key seafood supplier to China’s $20 billion market

| 08:28 07/09/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.

What did businesses and buyers find at Vietfish 2026?

| 10:14 03/09/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.

Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the US: a large market, but a breakthrough remains elusive

| 07:54 02/09/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.

The future workforce: the fisheries sector must become a career of choice

| 07:58 31/08/2026

(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.

From POR21 Pressure to Opportunities for Vietnam’s Pangasius to Expand into Potential Markets

| 08:31 25/08/2026

(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.

VIETFISH 2026 Successfully Concludes: record scale, innovation highlights, and meaningful business connections

| 19:33 23/08/2026

(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.

5 Seminars at Vietfish 2026: New Perspectives for the Seafood Industry

| 09:48 21/08/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.

VIETFISH 2026 Officially Opens: record scale, deeper connections across the global seafood value chain

| 12:11 19/08/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”

Press Release: Vietfish 2026 Returns at Record Scale, Driving the “Green Transition” Toward the US$12 Billion Export Target

| 10:01 17/08/2026

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.

House Ag Committee Votes to Repeal USDA Catfish Inspection

Tin cùng chuyên mục

Tuna exports in the first half of 2026: One month of strong growth is not enough to ease mounting pressure

Vietnamese tuna maintains momentum in Sweden, but the market Is becoming more unpredictable

Tuna exports slow as ocean freight rates climb

Egypt emerges as a bright spot for Vietnamese tuna exports

Russia emerges as a new growth driver for Vietnamese tuna exports

Vietnam’s tuna market share in the UK expands while overall imports decline sharply