Originally part of the 2008 Farm Bill, the measure has been a source of controversy that opponents — including many seafood importers — argue is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money.
Implementation of the measure has been delayed, much to the chagrin of U.S. catfish farmers who argue that the measure is essential for food safety and fair competition. They argue that their overseas competitors should be subject to the same scrutiny.
The senators — including John Kerry (D-Mass.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) — said the USDA program would “simply supplant the existing FDA [Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points] seafood regulatory scheme, an approach that is designed to take account of the differing food safety hazards that arise from aquaculture products such as catfish. By contrast, USDA has acknowledged that it possesses limited information and experience related to aquaculture and that the benefits of its new program are ‘uncertain.’”
The USDA program could be put in place as soon as 2013, and could cost about USD 30 million, according to the Government Accountability Office. The senators say funds better spent on other USDA programs would be “misapplied” to fund the catfish inspection program.
Vietnam’s pangasius industry would stand to lose an important market if the measure becomes policy. USDA regulations for products under its purview require an equivalent inspection program in the exporting nation, something Vietnam does not currently have. Essentially, the shift would cut them out of the U.S. market.
Last year, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the National Fisheries Institute of McLean, Va., both said the inspection process should remain with FDA, as every other seafood product currently is.
“We believe it is important for U.S. consumers to know that the seafood we produce in Vietnam is safe and nutritious,” VASEP said in a statement last February. “Pangasius, in particular, now meets or exceeds all mandatory requirements for export to world markets, including HACCP. In addition, our exporting companies comply with a range of stringent voluntary programs such as GlobalGAP, the British Retail Consortium, SQF 1000 and USDC. To suggest otherwise, as the U.S. catfish industry continues to do, does a disservice to U.S. consumers, retailers, restaurant operators, and importers — all who enjoy our high-quality, safe, versatile and affordable fish.”
The measure to shift inspection agencies has the backing of The Catfish Institute and numerous Southern legislators, including Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). The Catfish Farmers of America (CFA) has aggressively campaigned against imported catfish and pangasius on the grounds that the products do not meet U.S. safety standards.
Last spring, CFA accused the U.S. government of “backpedaling” following the GAO report questioning the cost of transferring regulation authority to USDA.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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
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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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