Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                CFSAN Constituent Updates

CFSAN Constituent Updates Home
          Food
          News & Events from CFSAN
          CFSAN Constituent Updates
          FDA Releases FDA Activities for the Safety of Imported SeafoodCFSAN Constituent Updates FDA Releases FDA Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintConstituent Update

March 21, 2023

Today, the FDA released Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood (PDF).  The report shares the comprehensive approach the FDA is taking to ensure that imported seafood consumed in the U.S. meets food safety requirements and the standards of domestically produced seafood.

Seafood is one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world with 2018 total imports accounting for approximately 94% of seafood sold by volume in the U.S. Seafood contains high quality protein and other essential nutrients and is an important part of a healthy diet. The safety of imported seafood, particularly shrimp, the most consumed type of seafood in the U.S., has garnered the attention of Congress and industry, among other stakeholders.

The FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food (Import Strategy) is the roadmap for this report.  It describes a comprehensive approach to imported food safety – guided by four goals:

Food Offered for Import Meets U.S. Food Safety Requirements
	FDA Border Surveillance Prevents Entry of Unsafe Foods
	Rapid and Effective Response to Unsafe Imported Food
	Effective and Efficient Food Import ProgramThe Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood details how established FDA regulation and innovative programs and technology are employed to support each of the four goals as they relate to imported seafood safety. These include proactively engaging and establishing partnerships with FDA regulatory counterparts in countries that export seafood to the United States; exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Machine Learning (ML), to strengthen predictive analytics; and developing new tools that leverage technology such as geographic information system (GIS) to provide spatial intelligence about potential seafood hazards.

Many of the new import oversight tools described in the report align with activities under the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative that focuses on creating a more digital, traceable and safer food system and builds on the success of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

In November 2022, the FDA released the Activities for the Safety of Imported Produce. Like the seafood report, the document outlines how the agency is working to enhance the safety of imported produce guided by the four goals established in the imported food safety strategy document. Today, the U.S. imports roughly 32% of its fresh vegetables and 55% of its fresh fruit.

Additional Information:

FDA Voices: How FDA’s Strategy Helps Ensure the Safety of Imported Seafood
	Imported Seafood Safety Program

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      03/21/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & Beverages
			  			     			  						              
			
			
			
			
			
						  Seafood/Seafood ProductCFSAN Constituent Updates
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop