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) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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
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