Imported Seafood Testing Act

Bill: 117-hr-1236
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2021-02-23
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Food supply, safety, and labeling

Intergovernmental relations

Seafood

State and local government operations

Trade restrictions

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b>Imported Seafood Testing Act</b><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inspect a certain amount of imported seafood each year and contains other provisions related to imported seafood.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Specifically, the FDA must inspect at least 20% of all imported seafood each year and must also inspect the first 15 shipments imported into the United States by a new exporter. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">The bill also imposes various requirements and penalties for failed inspections, including by (1) requiring the destruction of a shipment that would have caused significant health risks, and (2) barring imports from a country with a pattern of failed inspections. &nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The bill also imposes civil penalties for knowingly making a false statement with respect to such inspections or misbranding imported seafood.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1236 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 23, 2021 Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. Krishnamoorthi ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure the safety of imported seafood.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Imported Seafood Testing Act . 2. Ensuring the safety of imported seafood (a) In general Chapter VIII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 810. Safety of imported seafood (a) Mandatory testing (1) Minimum testing The Secretary shall inspect and test not less than 20 percent of all seafood imported or offered for import into the United States each year. (2) New exporters Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the first 15 shipments of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States from an exporter shall be inspected and tested by the Secretary. (3) Failure to pass inspection (A) One failure If a shipment of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States by an exporter fails to meet an inspection or test requirement under this Act, each subsequent shipment of seafood from such exporter shall be inspected and tested by the Secretary, until 15 consecutive shipments by such exporter pass that inspection and testing. (B) Multiple failures (i) In general If more than 3 shipments of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States by an exporter fail to meet inspection or test requirements under this Act during any 1-year period, no shipments from such exporter may be imported or offered for import into the United States for the following 1-year period. Following such 1-year period when no shipments may be so imported or offered, such exporter shall not be permitted to offer imports to the United States unless the Secretary certifies that such exporter is maintaining a program using reliable analytical methods to ensure compliance with the United States standards for seafood manufacturing, processing, and holding. (ii) Determination by Secretary Shipments of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States by an exporter that has been subject to a 1-year suspension period and a certification under clause (i) shall be inspected at a rate determined appropriate by the Secretary for a period of time as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (C) Pattern of failures If the Secretary determines that shipments of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States from a particular country repeatedly fail to meet inspection or testing requirements under this Act, all shipments of seafood from such country shall be refused entry into the United States until the Secretary makes a certification described in subparagraph (B)(i). (4) Fees The Secretary shall by regulation impose such fees on exporters in such amounts as may be necessary to provide, equip, and maintain an adequate and efficient inspection service to carry out this subsection. Receipts from such fees shall be covered into the Treasury and shall be available to the Secretary for expenditures incurred in carrying out the purposes of this subsection. (b) Effect of shipments that fail To meet requirements (1) In general Notwithstanding section 801, if a shipment of seafood imported or offered for import into the United States fails to meet safety standards established by the Secretary, such shipment shall be detained or destroyed unless the imported shipment meets criteria for re-export, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Labeling If a shipment of seafood has been refused admission under paragraph (1), other than such a shipment that is required to be destroyed, the Secretary shall require the owner or consignee of the shipment to affix to the container of the seafood a label that clearly and conspicuously bears the statement: UNITED STATES: REFUSED ENTRY . (3) Exporting to foreign country If the appropriate authority of a foreign country notifies the Secretary, not later than 45 days after the shipment is rejected under paragraph (1), that the shipment will be accepted in that country, such shipment may be released to the importer for exportation to such foreign country. (4) Destruction of shipment If the Secretary deems that a shipment rejected under paragraph (1), if it had been allowed entry, could have caused significant health risks if consumed by humans, the shipment shall be destroyed, notwithstanding the receipt of a notification under paragraph (3). (5) Notification to ports of entry The Secretary shall notify ports of entry not later than 5 days after a shipment described in paragraph (1)— (A) was determined to fail to meet safety standards established by the Secretary under such paragraph; or (B) was detained or destroyed. (c) Reporting The Secretary shall maintain a public webpage on the website of the Food and Drug Administration tracking all shipments that are detained or destroyed, and the status of any importing countries failing to meet minimum standards. . (b) Prohibited Act; penalties Chapter III of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 331 et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 301, by adding at the end the following: (fff) Knowingly making a false statement with respect to a test or inspection carried out under section 810, or knowingly misbranding any seafood imported under such section. ; and (2) in section 303, by adding at the end the following: (h) (1) Any person who violates section 301(fff) shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each such violation, and not to exceed $250,000 for each such violation and not to exceed $1,100,000 for all such violations after the second conviction in any 3-year period. (2) Paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (f) shall apply to a civil penalty assessment under this subsection in the same manner as such paragraphs apply to a civil penalty assessment under subsection (f)(1). .