The program was first installed into the 2008 Farm Bill. It took responsibility for inspecting imported catfish out of the hands of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and gave it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Proponents at the time said the USDA would be better able to screen imports for toxic chemicals and other contaminants, but opponents have argued that the program was in fact put in place to protect a collection of domestic catfish producers by erecting an unofficial trade barrier to Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam.
Many groups, including the Government Accountability Office and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), argued that the USDA has already spend millions just to equip itself to inspect catfish, and to date has not inspected a single fish.
Now, the U.S. Congress is working on an update of the bill, and the House Agricultural Committee voted to repeal the program, giving inspection responsibility back to the FDA. With the full house now voting to repeal it, the Senate has to also vote for a repeal to make it law.
Today, NFI Spokesman Gavin Gibbons praised the House for its vote, calling it “more evidence that catfish repeal is a priority in Washington.”
U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., who sits on the committee and is one of many congressmen opposed to the program, said its repeal will save American taxpayers more than USD 170 million (EUR 130.4 million) over the next 10 years.
"I look forward to the House and Senate working together to iron out the differences in the two versions of the Farm Bill,” she said in a statement.
“Today was an important step toward enacting a five-year farm bill this year that gives our farmers and ranchers certainty, provides regulatory relief to small businesses across the country, significantly reduces spending, and makes common-sense, market-oriented reforms to agricultural policy. I look forward to continuing conversations with my House colleagues and starting conversations with my Senate colleagues on a path forward that ultimately gets a farm bill to the President’s desk in the coming months,” added Agriculture Committee chairman Frank Lucas, in a statement.
According to Vietnam Customs, the export of value-added pangasius in the first eight months of 2024 has been evaluated as quite positive, with continuous growth in many major markets such as the United States, CPTPP, and the Netherlands...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Department of Fisheries of Ca Mau province coordinated with the School of Fisheries under Can Tho University to organize training courses on high-tech shrimp farming for 120 people in processors, cooperatives and families that are raising intensive and super-intensive shrimp in the province.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Soc Trang province plans to expand its shrimp farming area from over 50,000 hectares to 57,000 hectares by 2025, aiming for a production of 233,800 tons and maintaining a $1 billion export value. The project will establish 45 climate-resilient shrimp farming models and ensure all farms meet aquaculture standards for traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In July 2024, Vietnam's fish cake and surimi exports declined. The export value reached just over 24 million USD, down 3% over the same period. In the first 7 months of 2024, the cumulative export of this product group reached 152 million USD, down 13%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap is a key region for pangasius farming, boasting the largest production in the Mekong Delta. In the first seven months of 2024, the estimated aquaculture area reached 4,778 hectares, with a harvest yield of 307,336 tons. Of this, the intensive pangasius farming area covered 2,042 hectares, with a harvest of 252,670 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in the first half of August 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the EU reached nearly 8 million USD, up 57% over the same period. Cumulative pangasius exports to this market as of August 15, 2024, reached 107 million USD, up 0.5% over the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Board of Directors of International Development & Investment Corporation (IDI) is confident of completing this year's profit plan in the context of gradually recovering demand for pangasius in China and Mexico.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Some farmers in Soc Trang province have successfully applied a balanced biological shrimp farming technique, which eliminates the use of chemicals to minimize environmental impacts. This is a model of farming that adapts to climate change.
8 finalists have been named in the best new seafood product competition to be awarded at Seafood Expo Asia, taking place 4 to 6 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
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