NMFS Formally Withdraws Proposed Seafood Importer Trusted Trader Program
The National Marine Fisheries Service is formally withdrawing its proposal to create a “Commerce Trusted Trader Program” for seafood importers, it said in a notice released Sept. 17. NMFS says comments revealed that the agency had underestimated the costs to participate in the program, which would have provided the benefit of reduced entry filing requirements under the NMFS Seafood Import Monitoring Program (see 1801160041). Revised agency cost estimates showed that the internal controls required by importers would exceed the benefits they would receive from the trusted trader program, with the exception of a few very large importers. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman had said in July that the agency would not move forward with the program (see 1907290022). NMFS is an office of NOAA within the Commerce Department.
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“The withdrawal of this proposed rule does not preclude NMFS from reinstituting rulemaking concerning the issue addressed. Should NMFS decide to undertake such rulemaking in the future, we will re-propose the action and provide new opportunities for comment,” NMFS said.