The U.S. gets tough on farmed fish imported from Asia
The import alert requires certain products from Chinese fish farms to be tested for banned antibiotics before being allowed into the U.S. market. The importers must provide documentation that their seafood is safe, and this documentation must include test results supplied by a third party.
The alert was issued after the FDA conducted a seven-month study that was completed in May this year. This study found residues of restricted antibiotics in Chinese catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel. 25 per cent of the farm-raised seafood tested contained contaminated antimicrobial agents.
Consumer advocates in the United States are raising concerns about whether the import restrictions are strong enough. Their main concern is focused on the ability of seafood importers to obtain a certificate of seafood product safety from labs inside China itself.
The Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America is concerned that the FDA will accept these test results from Chinese labs without making sure that they use the appropriate methods. The FDA in the meantime stated that "they may choose to go check up on it". When the alert is lifted, the FDA will resume spot-testing all Chinese food imports.
