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) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
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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