Senate Commerce Committee Reports Seafood Safety Bill
On June 8, 2011, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ordered favorably reported S. 50, a bill to strengthen Federal consumer product safety programs and activities with respect to commercially-marketed seafood by directing the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission and other appropriate Federal agencies to strengthen and coordinate those programs and activities.
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According to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) summary, S. 50 would:
- authorize: (1) the refusal of admission ofimported seafood or seafood products originating from a country or exporter if such seafood does not meet federal requirements, and (2) increased inspection of shipments of seafood from countries that do not meet federal requirements and that lack adequate certified laboratories.
- direct the Secretary to increase the number of laboratories certified to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards in the United States and in countries that export seafood to the U.S. to analyze food and ensure that the laboratories comply with applicable federal laws.
- authorize the Secretary of Commerce to increase the number and capacity of laboratories operated by NOAA involved in testing and other activities under this Act as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act and as provided for in appropriations Acts.
- direct the Secretary to strengthen federal activities for ensuring that commercially distributed seafood meets federal food quality and safety requirements.
- direct the Secretary and other appropriate federal agencies to enter into agreements to strengthen interagency cooperation on seafood safety, labeling, and fraud, including regarding examining and testing seafood imports, inspections of foreign facilities, establishing a distribution chain tracking system, data sharing, and public outreach.
- require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to report deceptive seafood marketing and fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).