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This bill would tighten safety rules for imported shrimp. It would require the federal government to work with foreign countries that export shrimp to the United States and only allow shrimp from countries that have a food inspection system that is as strong as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s system for shrimp. If a country does not agree to these terms or does not meet the safety standard, its shrimp could be blocked from entering the United States. The bill also requires regular reports to Congress on how these new rules are being carried out.
- Within 180 days, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would have to try to make agreements with foreign governments that have facilities handling shrimp for the U.S. market.
- One year after the bill becomes law, shrimp from a foreign country could be refused entry if that country does not make an agreement or if its inspection system is not judged equal to the FDA’s shrimp safety system.
- To qualify, a foreign inspection system would need enough staff to enforce the rules fairly and laws that cover how shrimp is raised and transported before it reaches processing plants.
- Foreign governments that want approval would have to send the government copies of their laws, rules, and other information about how their inspection system works. The Health and Human Services Secretary would also have to report to Congress after one year and then every year after that.
Official Summaries
Safer Shrimp Imports Act
This 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.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 667 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 667
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the
inspection of foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or
hold shrimp for consumption in the United States, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 20, 2025
Mrs. Hyde-Smith introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the
inspection of foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or
hold shrimp for consumption in the United States, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safer Shrimp Imports Act''.
SEC. 2. SHRIMP MANUFACTURED, PROCESSED, PACKED, OR HELD AT OVERSEAS
FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 807 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 384c) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(c) Requirements for Foreign Shrimp Facilities.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to enter into
arrangements and agreements under subsection (a)(1) with the
foreign government of each foreign country with 1 or more
foreign facilities registered under section 415 that
manufacture, process, pack, or hold shrimp for consumption in
the United States.
``(2) Requirements for shrimp.--Beginning on the date that
is 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection,
shrimp shall be refused admission into the United States if it
is manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a foreign
country--
``(A) the government of which does not enter into
an arrangement or agreement with the Secretary under
paragraph (1); or
``(B) the food inspection system of which does not
meet the criteria described in paragraph (3).
``(3) Criteria.--The criteria described in this paragraph
with respect to a food inspection system is that the food
inspection system (as demonstrated to the Secretary by the
applicable foreign government) is equivalent to the food
inspection system of the Food and Drug Administration with
respect to shrimp, including by providing--
``(A) staffing that ensures uniform enforcement of
applicable laws and regulations; and
``(B) enforcement of laws and regulations that
address the conditions under which shrimp is raised and
transported to processing establishments.
``(4) Demonstration.--A foreign government seeking to
demonstrate that its food inspection system meets the criteria
described in paragraph (3) shall provide to the Secretary
copies of all laws, regulations, and other information
pertaining to such food inspection system.''.
(b) Adulteration.--Section 402 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 342) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(j) If it is shrimp imported or offered for import into the
United States and the shrimp has been manufactured, processed, packed,
or held in a foreign country the government or food inspection system
of which does not comply with the applicable requirements of section
807(c).''.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that describes the
implementation of the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b).
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