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USDA Announces Proposed Rule for the Inspection of Catfish and Catfish Products
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Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Neil Gaffney
WASHINGTON, February 18, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposed rule requiring
inspection of catfish and catfish products by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). USDA is proposing these regulations to
implement provisions as required by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the 2008 Farm Bill.
The 2008 Farm Bill amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act making catfish an amenable species under the Act, thereby requiring that all
catfish undergo inspection by FSIS. In addition, the Secretary must take into account the conditions under which catfish are raised and
transported to processing establishments as part of the new inspection program.
The 2008 Farm Bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to define the term "catfish" for this new inspection program. The
proposed rule provides two options for the definition of catfish and seeks public comment on the issue. One option is the current
labeling definition in the 2002 Farm Bill, which includes all species in the family Ictaluridae. The other option is to define catfish
as all species in the order Siluriformes, including the three families typically found in human food channels, including Ictaluridae,
Pangasiidae, and Clariidae.
The proposed rule describes the new requirements that will apply to catfish produced in or imported to the United States. Among these
requirements is that products labeled as "catfish" must bear either the FSIS mark of inspection or a mark of inspection from
the country from which it was exported.
The proposed rule also describes how FSIS will inspect U.S. catfish farms as well as transportation from farms to processing establishments,
as required under the 2008 Farm Bill. In this regard, FSIS will focus on factors affecting the safety of the product being produced, such as
water quality and feed.
The proposed rule anticipates a transition period during which domestic and international operations will come into compliance with the
catfish inspection program. Once the catfish inspection program rules are issued in final form, FSIS will follow-up by announcing the
implementation dates for key provisions in the rule.
Comments must be received on or before June 24, 2011, and may be submitted per the following: through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov; by mail to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS Docket Clerk,
Room 2-2127, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Mailstop 5272, Beltsville, MD 20705; or by e-mail to
fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
All comments must identify FSIS and docket number FSIS-2008-0031. Comments will be available for viewing on the FSIS website at
www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/
proposed_rules/index.asp.
In addition to a public comment period, FSIS intends to hold public meetings on the proposed rule, which will be announced at a later date.
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For More Information: Proposed Rule and Related Documents
Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter.com/usdafoodsafety |
Last Modified: February 18, 2011 |
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