Risks, Benefits, and Challenges in the U.S. Seafood Industry

1. Risks, Benefits, and Challenges in the U.S. Seafood Industry Barbara Blakistone, Ph.D. National Fisheries Institute November 8 , 2007 Seafood Science & Technology Punta Cana, República Dominicana

2. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for NFI’s Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

3. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for NFI’s Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

4. Who is NFI? • The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is the nation’s leading advocacy organization for the seafood industry.  • NFI’s members represent every element of the industry from the fishing vessels at sea to the national seafood restaurant chains.  • NFI and its members support and promote sound public policy based on peer-reviewed science. 

5. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for NFI’s Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

6. RL34124, August 8, 2007 http://nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL34124.pdf

7. Fraud and Deception • Mislabeling or Substituting Species • Low Weights or Undercounting • Trans-shipments to Avoid Duties

8. Seafood Substitution What does FDA say? • Economic Deception or Fraud -- occurs when a less expensive species is substituted for a more expensive-species. • For example, the substitution of less expensive rockfish (Sebastes spp.) for more expensive red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in interstate commerce constitutes fraud and is prohibited under the Misbranding Section of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act Section 403: MISBRANDED FOOD. Section 403(b) - Misbranded food: A food shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is offered for sale under the name of another food. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/econ. html

9. Species Red Snapper Mahi Mahi Swordfish Orange Roughy Grouper Wild-caught salmon Substitution Rockfish Yellowtail Mako Shark Oreo or John Dory Basa or Tra Farm-raised salmon Commonly Substituted Seafood Source: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/econ.html

10. Low Weights or Undercounting Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Labels must contain accurate information to identify the product, manufacturer, packer or distributor and the net quantity of contents, in terms of weight or mass, measure, or numerical count.

11. Common Offers Black Tiger HLSO 6x4 lbs, Block Frozen 100% NW/NC 98% NW/NC 95% NW/NC

12. Trans-shipment of Products • Shipping products to another country en route to the U.S. • Illegal if done to avoid (circumvent) duties or other trade restriction.

13. Economic Integrity Initiative • In 2006, NFI Board approved an Economic Integrity Initiative. • Goal to increase consumer confidence in seafood products. • “Following the rules” often results in lost business. • Develop a process for accountability.

14. Better Seafood Bureau • A corporate entity separate from National Fisheries Institute • Separate Board of Managers • 16 members representing • NFI Board • NFI membership • Public • Launched July 2007

15. BSB Process • Similar to Better Business Bureau • system to report unresolved challenges • Call-center established to document unresolved situations of economic fraud. 1-866-959-4BSB

16. Steps after a Complaint • NFI member will be notified after each logged complaint. • Given “3 strikes” • After third complaint must submit to a third-party audit • determine if the member is adhering to their pledge. • Member will be dismissed from NFI if not meeting commitment.

17. Where We Want to Be Goal is to highlight NFI members as committed to the highest ethical standards.

18. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for NFI’s Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

21. In the News: Unapproved Drugs • FDA issues an import alert on unapproved drugs in aquacultured seafood products • FDA issues Import Alert 16-131 on June 28, 2007; revised on July 10

22. Residue Statistics on Chinese Seafood(as of April 30) • 10.5% (18/172) of all samples tested from China are positive for chemotherapeutics. • 18 /22 violatives are from China. • 4/22 are from Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico.

23. Comparative Residue Statistics on Seafood • In Fiscal Year 04, China had 21.6% of all violatives versus 10.5 % in FY 07. • In FY 04 Vietnam had 32.4% of all violatives versus 9.1% in FY 07.

24. Current Effects of 16-131 on the Seafood Industry • Only one supplier on the 16-131 Exemption list: Goulian Aquatic Products • testing costs • commerce • What it takes to get on the Exemption list

25. Import Alert 16-131 How to get released from DWPE: • 5 consecutive clean shipments • Documentation from third party auditor (e.g., AQSIQ) certifying compliance with HACCP • Documentation on compliance with Chinese government requirements

26. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for the Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

27. Action on Capitol Hill House Energy and Commerce Certification program for U.S. importers • Certificate from FDA • Employee(s) trained in U.S. customs, HACCP • Recall plan on file

28. Action on Capitol Hill House Energy and CommerceCertification program for exporters • Facility complies with country’s food safety standards • Country has a program to enforce food safety standards • FDA to monitor exporting country’s program

29. The Seafood Industry Favors • Requiring FDA to certify importers • Requiring foreign countries to certify exporters • Strengthening FDA with more resources

30. The Seafood Industry Favors • Developing common standards among countries • Requiring FDA to certify labs • Enabling third party testing of food imports

31. Agenda/Learning Objectives • Who is National Fisheries (NFI)? • Case for the Better Seafood Bureau • Use of Unapproved Antibiotics • Capitol Hill • Health Benefits, Risks, & the new USDA Advisory

32. Benefits of Seafood Consumption • Eating fish 2X/week can reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack by 36 % and risk of stroke. • Eating more than four 3 oz servings of seafood per week during pregnancy provides significant neurological benefits to the fetus, neonate, and children.

33. Benefits of Seafood Consumption • A recent study published in The Lancet journal found that children of mothers who ate more than 12 ounces — about three or four meals — of fish during pregnancy have stronger motor, communication and social skills than children of mothers who ate little or no seafood.

34. Seafood Benefits • Maternal Nutrition Group Finds Eating Fish Vitally Important For Pregnant Women and Their Unborn Babies Advisory: Eat a minimum of 12 oz of Fish Per Week Recommended for Optimum Fetal Brain Development.

35. Consumer Concerns Mercury Antibiotics farmed fish foodborne illness taste sustainability allergies

36. USDA AdvisoryMyPyramid for Moms • Mercury in Fish. One of these chemicals is mercury, and some types of fish have high levels of mercury. The mercury can harm the developing nervous system in an unborn child or young baby. • Other Chemicals in Fish.In addition to mercury, fish may contain other harmful chemicals, especially fish caught in local waters.

37. Benefits vs Risks “The current challenge is to determine whether it is feasible to shift to a new paradigm for methylmercury based on assessments of risk that are adequately protective without being unduly precautionary . . . “ International Association of Fish Inspectors

38. What To Do?

39. Like frogs, the food industry can eat what bugs them.