A little-known provision in the bill sponsored by Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI) that was added to the farm bill last month would require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct a “scientific and economic analysis” of FSMA regulations before they can move forward, a requirement that could further delay regulations that are severely behind the deadlines set by Congress.
Benishek, who has tree fruit farmers in his Northern Michigan district, says he wants to make sure FDA is getting the rules right so it doesn’t hinder farmers. Apple, cherry, and other tree fruit growers have been among the most outspoken critics of proposed FSMA regulations for produce safety. The groups are particularly upset about new water testing requirements they view as onerous and unnecessary.
Sandra Eskin, director of the food safety campaign at the Pew Charitable Trusts, thinks Benishek’s amendment could “significantly delay” the rules FDA is working on.
“What this provision does is totally undermine the process we have for regulations in this country,” said Eskin, noting that FDA has published regulatory impact reports that include analysis on the costs and benefits of each proposed rule.
The bill specifically says FDA may not enforce any of the FSMA regulations until the analyses are published to the federal register, but some in the produce industry think that the requirement might not stall the rules if it becomes law because FDA is already focusing on the science and considering the economic impact.
Consumer advocates are hoping that Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and others who were champions for the sweeping food safety law, will ensure the measure is stripped when the House and Senate reconcile their respective versions in conference.
Sen. Harkin took to Twitter Thursday afternoon and said the House had passed “a farm bill that nobody wants,” adding that it “would undermine critical food safety law” while foodborne illness continues to impact 1 in 6 Americans annually.
The farm program-only farm bill cleared the House 216 to 208 with no support from Democrats. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said leadership is in discussions about bringing the nutrition title, which deals with the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, to the floor “sometime in the near feature,” but the path forward for SNAP is not clear. The House version seeks $20 billion in cuts to nutrition assistance over the next 10 years — significantly more than the Senate’s $4 billion scale-back.
Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said the House’s first phase of the farm bill is “not a real Farm Bill and is an insult to rural America.” She pointed out that splitting the bill in two was “strongly opposed by more than 500 farm, food and conservation groups.”
“We will go to conference with the bipartisan, comprehensive Farm Bill that was passed in the Senate,” said Stabenow.
Frank Lucas (R-OK), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee — who had made it clear he thought splitting the bill was a bad idea — said the vote was “an important step toward enacting a five-year farm bill this year that gives our farmers and ranchers certainty.” Lucas said he would be continuing conversations with lawmakers in both chambers to find a path “that ultimately gets a farm bill to the President’s desk in the coming month.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn