GAO Report Gives Mississippi Sen. Cochran Ammunition to Further Hamper Seafood Imports
SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton October 4, 2017
A new GAO report criticizes both the FDA and USDA’s FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) for failing to adequately monitor potential drug contamination in aquaculture products.
The report was commissioned by Sen. Thad Cochran, who has consistently supported efforts of US domestic catfish and shrimp producers to restrict trade in seafood.
The GAO made five recommendations, of which the two agencies partially disagreed.
- That FDA should pursue bilateral agreements with exporting countries that require them to do drug testing for maximum residue levels for all drugs of concern to the FDA.
The FDA objected to this saying that they have not had requests from exporting countries to do this, and some countries may not have the capacity. The report gives Cochran the opportunity to try and insert this requirement ..
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