The US seafood trade association hopes to have the CO group formed in the next month, John Connelly, president of NFI, told IntraFish.
The move was prompted by seafood firms exploring the use of carbon monoxide, or CO, in their modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) products, Doug Brinsmade, president of Texas-based seafood importer HIROAD, told IntraFish. Brinsmade spent 15 years with Anova Food Group, which once marketed products under its patented Clearsmoke CO treatment process.
The use of CO in MAP products in the meat industry is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), and although the seafood industry is not directly asking the FDA to OK a broader use of CO, that, indirectly, could be the result.
The use of Tasteless Smoke, a form of CO treatment, was patented in the 1990s by Hawaii International Seafood (HIS), which used it to treat tuna. At the time, HIS specifically asked the FDA for a so-called Letter of No Objection, which in effect gave FDA’s blessing to the product’s GRAS status.
The use of CO to treat seafood is banned in the EU, Japan and Canada.
US law does not require companies to notify the FDA of a GRAS determination, but if the FDA does at some point decide to investigate a company’s claim an ingredient is safe, all of the science must be ready for FDA to examine.
"The use of CO and filtered wood smoke has been a good thing for our industry," said Brinsmade. "The science behind the use of CO is and has always been positive."
He said the meat industry is a step ahead of seafood because it has received GRAS status on a variety of applications since 2006.
"If the FDA would like the seafood industry to follow suit and apply for GRAS on CO and its use on seafood, then this could only benefit us in the long term, Brinsmade said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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