HR3324-119

What This Bill Does

The Safer Shrimp Imports Act uses FDA import authority to tighten oversight of foreign shrimp. Within 180 days, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through FDA, must seek arrangements under section 807(a)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with foreign governments whose countries have registered facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold shrimp for U.S. consumption. Beginning one year after enactment, FDA must refuse admission to shrimp from a country whose government has not entered such an arrangement or agreement, or whose food inspection system does not meet bill criteria. Those criteria require equivalence to FDA inspection for shrimp, sufficient staffing for uniform enforcement, and laws or regulations addressing the conditions under which shrimp is raised and transported to processing establishments. Foreign governments must provide relevant laws, regulations, and information, and HHS must report annually to the Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. shrimp consumers benefit from import restrictions tied to foreign inspection systems and shrimp production conditions. Domestic shrimp producers benefit competitively if unsafe or weakly inspected foreign shrimp faces refusal at the border. Seafood retailers benefit from clearer federal safety expectations for imported shrimp in U.S. supply chains. Congressional health committees benefit from annual HHS reports on foreign shrimp safety arrangements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Foreign shrimp processors in noncomplying countries can lose U.S. market access after the one-year deadline. Foreign governments exporting shrimp must negotiate arrangements and document shrimp inspection laws, staffing, and transport rules. Shrimp importers must verify country eligibility and manage refusal risk for shipments from noncompliant systems. FDA food safety staff must seek agreements, evaluate foreign inspection systems, refuse nonqualifying shrimp, and produce annual reports.

Key Provisions

• Requires HHS and FDA to seek foreign-government shrimp safety arrangements within 180 days.
• Requires refusal of shrimp imports from countries without qualifying agreements or equivalent inspection systems after one year.
• Requires foreign inspection systems to cover shrimp raising, transport, processing, staffing, and uniform enforcement.
• Requires annual HHS reports to Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce.