Much of the shrimp Americans eat comes from overseas, but foreign shrimp facilities often face far less inspection than domestic ones. This bill would require the FDA to establish food safety agreements with every country that ships shrimp to the U.S. within 180 days. After one year, shrimp from any country that hasn't signed an agreement — or whose inspection system doesn't meet FDA-equivalent standards — would be refused entry at the border. It's aimed at protecting consumers from contaminated or unsafe imported shrimp.
Congressional Summary
Safer Shrimp Imports ActThis bill prohibits the importation of shrimp from countries that do not have food inspection systems equivalent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection system for shrimp, or that have not entered into an agreement with the FDA facilitating U.S. inspection of their food facilities. Specifically, the FDA must seek to enter into arrangements and agreements with the government of each country with at least one facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds shrimp for consumption in the United States to facilitate FDA inspection of such facilities. The bill prohibits the importation of shrimp that is manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a country (1) that has not entered into an inspection arrangement or agreement with the FDA, or (2) the food inspection system of which is not equivalent to the FDA’s food inspection system with respect to shrimp. To be considered equivalent, a country’s food inspection system must include staffing that ensures uniform enforcement of applicable laws and regulations, and must provide for the enforcement of laws and regulations that address conditions under which shrimp are raised and transported to processing facilities. Further, shrimp imported or offered for import into the United States that have been manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a country that is not compliant with these requirements are deemed adulterated, and thus may not be introduced into interstate commerce.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-05-13
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09