FSIS Begins Transitional Period for Catfish Import Inspections
The Food Safety and Inspection Service began a "transitional period" during which FSIS is selecting a "subset of imported shipments of Siluriformes fish and fish products for reinspection, which will include testing for species, chemical residues, and Salmonella," said the agency in a CBP CSMS message (here). The transitional period, April 15 through Sept. 1, 2017, is meant "to ensure that importers, customs brokers, and other stakeholders have ample time to prepare and comply with FSIS’s mandatory reinspection requirements," said FSIS. Under the agency’s final rule (see 1511270024), which takes full effect Sept. 1, 2017 (see 1512020024), FSIS is assuming regulatory responsibilities for catfish and other siluriformes from the Food and Drug Administration. "For rail, truck, and air shipments, FSIS may target a shipment of interest by the time of arrival or CBP release, whichever is later," it said. "For ocean shipments, a decision will be made within 48 hours from the time of entry filing."
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Within the transitional period, "shipments of imported Siluriformes fish and fish products from eligible countries/establishments" won't display any "FSIS flags requiring submission of electronic data or paper certificates at the border," the agency said. "FSIS will select specific shipments for reinspection and will notify customs brokers verbally when a specific shipment has been selected," it said. During the transition period, if a shipment isn't selected for reinspection by FSIS, "you will not receive an electronic communication that your shipment may proceed in commerce, as was the standard practice of FDA. Importers and customs brokers are encouraged to file the entry as soon as possible to ensure that logistics of the selected shipments can be accommodated."