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US extends review of rules for imported catfish
The US Office of Management and Budget on February 16 decided to extend its review of rules on catfish food safety inspection proposed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Officials from the US Departments of State and Commerce and several members of Congress have criticised the proposal, saying catfish imports are being unfairly targeted, particularly Tra and Basa from Vietnam .
Earlier, many parliamentarians have called on USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack not to include Tra and Basa into his proposal. They said if Pangasius fish from Vietnam are included into the catfish list, they would be subject to a stricter safety inspection regime under the 2008 farm bill, which is unaffordable to Vietnam due to high costs of money and time.
Members of US Congress made it clear that they did not intend to include Tra and Basa fish from Vietnam into the line of adjustment under the 2008 farm bill when voting for the law last year.
They expressed concerns that if the USDA names the two sorts of fish from Vietnam as catfish, it also means a ban on the importation of fish from Vietnam .
The action may lead to a retaliatory ban on US products, they warned.
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