The US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-MS, has introduced the Safer Shrimp Imports Act, legislation aimed at sharpening the federal inspection standards for imported shrimp.
The bill, S.667, would require that foreign shrimp exporters meet the American food safety standards and undergo inspections to prevent the import of contaminated shrimp.
With about 90 percent of the shrimp used in the United States from foreign sources, Hyde-Smith said that the measure is essential for protecting public health and guaranteeing fair competition for American shrimp. Many of the American shrimp are harvested in Mississippi.
“There are three important reasons why this account is urgently needed,” said Hyde-Smith. “First of all, American consumers would give more confidence that the imported shrimp they eat is not contaminated with drugs. Secondly, it corresponds to the president of the president who is again healthy to eliminate America to eliminate harmful chemicals in the food supply. And third, it will help to deliver the playing field for American shrimps that suffer because foreign governments dump their subsidized and infected shrimp on the American market. “
The bill would require that foreign shrimp -producing countries demonstrate the US Food and Drug Administration that their food safety inspection systems are equal to those of the United States. Shrimps of countries that do not meet those requirements are considered forged and excluded from the sale in the US. The legislation also requires regular FDA report to congress on enforcement efforts.
Hyde-Smith criticized the FDA for what she described as lax seafood inspections, which she claims have contributed to a public health crisis. “The FDA has not been too long about the inspection of seafood about seafood,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the president and HHS secretary Kennedy to make shrimps healthy again.”
The FDA currently has staff to inspect only a small percentage of imported seafood for prohibited substances. The proposed law would bring FDA supervision in accordance with the international equivalence standards of the US Department of Agriculture for the import of catfish. International equality is considered the gold standard for comparing inspection systems for food safety in different countries.
The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), which has long argued for strict supervision of the import of foreign shrimp, praised the introduction of the bill.
“We have worked hard almost a decade to ensure that foreign shrimp producers meet the same strict health and safety requirements as our domestic producers,” said Aspa President Trey Pearson. “Senator Hyde-Smith’s continuous attention for these issues is crucial, and its introduction of the Safer Shrimp Imports Act brings us a step closer to the necessary equality in health and safety standards.”
S.667 has been referred to the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for consideration.
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