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March 4th, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced a bill that would expand the National Marine Fisheries Service Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) to ensure that seafood products commercially distributed in the United States are fit for consumption.
“According to the most recent NOAA statistics, the average American consumes approximately 16 pounds of fish and shellfish each year,” said Senator Inouye. “It is essential that Americans are confident in the safety of the seafood they eat. By requiring the Secretaries of Commerce and Health and Human Services to work together to monitor seafood imports, we will take a significant step in ensuring that confidence.”
“Wild-caught Alaska seafood has consistently set the worldwide standard for quality and sustainability,” said Senator Stevens. “However, more than 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported from countries whose quality standards are nowhere near those applied in Alaska. This bill would raise those standards and protect the health and safety of all Americans.”
The Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act, S. 2688, would:
- Require the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work together to create an infrastructure that would provide a better system for importing safe seafood. They would be required to examine and test imported seafood; inspect foreign facilities; provide technical assistance and training to foreign facilities and governments; and expedite seafood imports from countries with consistently high standards.
- Increase the number and/or capacity of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) laboratories that are involved with the SIP under the National Marine Fisheries service.
- Authorize $15 million for each fiscal year from 2009 through 2013 to implement the provisions of this Act.
The full text of the bill is attached.
Audio of Senator Stevens speaking about seafood safety can be found here.
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