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Safety And Fraud Enforcement for Seafood Act

Introduced: July 25, 2012 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Aug 13, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Jul 31, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.

Jul 27, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Jul 25, 2012

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Jul 25, 2012

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1327-1328)

Jul 25, 2012

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safety And Fraud Enforcement for Seafood Act - Requires the Secretaries of Commerce and Health and Human Services (HHS) to execute a memorandum of understanding to improve interagency cooperation on seafood safety, building upon any prior agreement, including those under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Includes in such a memorandum processes concerning efficient use of inspection personnel, intergovernmental cooperation, use of data, monitoring of substances used in fish farming, and prescreening of imported seafood by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Establishes the following coordination requirements: (1) development of a process to expedite the importation of seafood from foreign countries and exporters that consistently adhere to the highest standards for seafood safety, (2) use of the national sea grant college program for outreach activities, and (3) collection of information to prevent seafood fraud. Defines "seafood fraud" as the mislabeling or misrepresentation of seafood in violation of this Act or other applicable federal laws and regulations.

Provides standards for refusal of admission of imported seafood based upon findings of failure to meet controls of existing fishery product regulations, the use of treatments or feed containing substances not approved for use by U.S. aquaculturists, or a level of any substance above the maximum deemed safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Provides procedures for import certifications and allowance of individual shipments in certain cases.

Includes, in fishery management plan data required to be submitted in the course of fish processing, information that accompanies seafood (including by labeling) through final sale concerning market and species names, production method, catch or aquaculture area, and weight, number, or product transformation. Requires a public website to list exporters of seafood to the United States and track violations.

Requires the Secretary of Commerce to increase the number of shipments inspected for seafood fraud, prevent the percentage of seafood shipments inspected from declining in a subsequent year, and ensure that inspections for fraud prevention also collect seafood safety information.

Allows civil actions by states for seafood fraud violations.

Requires the Secretaries to report to Congress biennially on seafood safety and seafood fraud prevention measures.

What's happening now August 13, 2012

Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Committees of jurisdiction 7