“We’re lobbying on it, we’re educating people on the hill about it, and at this point, there’s a firestorm in the media against it, NFI Spokesman Gavin Gibbons told IntraFish. NFI has three lobbyists in Washington D.C., he said.
Currently, the FDA remains the only agency charged with inspecting catfish imports, as the USDA has put off implementing its inspection program ever since it was created as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.
If the repeal fails and the program launches, it would require as many as three agencies – the FDA, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the USDA -- to inspect catfish imports into the US, and slap prohibitive requirements on pangasius importers, which would fall under the heading of catfish.
The seafood industry stands to lose out significantly, Gibbons said.
“Right off the bat, it would be pangasius importers – they would be impacted right away,” he said. “But we know that the domestic catfish importers have other species in their cross hairs, including tilapia.”
A backlash from the exporting country -- Vietnam -- is also likely. The Washington Times recently reported Vietnam has threatened a trade war over the program, and some warn the USDA inspection program meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) definition of an unfair trade barrier.
“If this program is allowed to stand, there will be many more losers than there will be winners,” Gibbons said. “A few domestic catfish suppliers benefit while the majority of the seafood community loses, and the US agriculture community loses as well.”
Among major news agencies, the most persuasive argument for repeal is fiscal responsibility.
News agencies such as Fox News, US News and World Report and The Wall Street Journal have called out the program for wasteful spending, along with an onslaught of political blogs. A Government Accountability Office report, published in March, backs up their claims. It found the program duplicates existing federal programs at a cost of $14 million (€11 million) to the government and industry.
“If FSIS’s proposed program were implemented, GAO expects it would cause duplication and inefficient use of resources in several key areas,” the report says.
Officials at the FDA and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) say the further inspections will not improve catfish safety and are counter to the use of the FDA’s hazard analysis requirements, according to the GAO report.
Salmonella was initially cited as a concern by the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) as the primary food hazard in catfish, but the GAO found the agency used “outdated and limited information” as the basis for the inspection program.
The US Catfish Farmers of America issued statements in support of the bill for years, but a response to the recent media attention was absent from their website as of Wednesday.
"This is not about catfish; this is about trade," Gibbons said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
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