“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.
(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.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.
(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.
(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.
(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.”
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.
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