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By Christopher Doering
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it will not allow imports of Chinese farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood until suppliers can prove the shipments are free from harmful residues.
The FDA said there was no immediate threat to public safety because of low levels of the substances in the seafood, but there was a chance serious health problems could develop if the product was consumed during a long period of time.
"Despite extensive communication between FDA and appropriate Chinese authorities to correct the problem, we've continued to find residues of certain veterinary drugs and food additives that are not permitted for use in the U.S. in farm fish products," FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Margaret O' K. Glavin told reporters.
FDA said catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel will not be allowed into the United States from China until the importer can demonstrate the product has met U.S. requirements and safety standards.
The temporary hold on farm-raised seafood comes following a series of safety concerns U.S. officials have uncovered with products imported from China. More than 1 million toy trains were recalled on June 13 because some may have contained lead paint.
And earlier this year, melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, surfaced in U.S. pet food, killing animals and prompting wide recalls. A poisonous chemical often found in solvents and antifreeze also was recently detected in some toothpaste imported from China.
"They are working hard to address food safety issues in China," said Dr. David Acheson, FDA's assistant commissioner for food protection. "However, our goal is to protect the American consumer and we believe that this is the appropriate action."
The FDA has faced criticism as recent food scares reveal low inspection rates. As food imports grow 15 percent a year, the FDA inspected just 1.3 percent of the goods under its purview in fiscal 2006. FDA estimated 5 percent of seafood imported is inspected because it is a higher-risk product.
"This latest crisis is further proof that FDA has serious catching up to do. There is a pattern emerging here," said Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
China is the largest producer of farmed fish, handling 50 percent of the total value of global aquacultured seafood exports around the world. It also is the third largest exporter of seafood to the United States.
The United States has been closely watching Chinese farmed-fish products exports since 2001. In November 2006, FDA said eel imported from China must be shown to be safe before it can be allowed into the United States.
The FDA said a sampling of imported Chinese seafood from October 2006 through May 2007 found more than 15 percent of shipments were contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for this use in the United States.
The FDA said it is not seeking recall of Chinese seafood products already in U.S. stores and is not advising consumers to destroy or return imported farm-raised seafood they may already have in their homes
The substances found in the imported seafood included nitrofuran, malachite green and fluoroquinolone, which the FDA said when used in food animals may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.
None of these substances is approved for use in farm-raised seafood in the United States, and the use of nitrofurans and malachite green in aquaculture is also prohibited by Chinese authorities.
(Additional reporting by Tom Doggett)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it will not allow imports of Chinese farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood until suppliers can prove the shipments are free from harmful residues.
The FDA said there was no immediate threat to public safety because of low levels of the substances in the seafood, but there was a chance serious health problems could develop if the product was consumed during a long period of time.
"Despite extensive communication between FDA and appropriate Chinese authorities to correct the problem, we've continued to find residues of certain veterinary drugs and food additives that are not permitted for use in the U.S. in farm fish products," FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Margaret O' K. Glavin told reporters.
FDA said catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel will not be allowed into the United States from China until the importer can demonstrate the product has met U.S. requirements and safety standards.
The temporary hold on farm-raised seafood comes following a series of safety concerns U.S. officials have uncovered with products imported from China. More than 1 million toy trains were recalled on June 13 because some may have contained lead paint.
And earlier this year, melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers, surfaced in U.S. pet food, killing animals and prompting wide recalls. A poisonous chemical often found in solvents and antifreeze also was recently detected in some toothpaste imported from China.
"They are working hard to address food safety issues in China," said Dr. David Acheson, FDA's assistant commissioner for food protection. "However, our goal is to protect the American consumer and we believe that this is the appropriate action."
The FDA has faced criticism as recent food scares reveal low inspection rates. As food imports grow 15 percent a year, the FDA inspected just 1.3 percent of the goods under its purview in fiscal 2006. FDA estimated 5 percent of seafood imported is inspected because it is a higher-risk product.
"This latest crisis is further proof that FDA has serious catching up to do. There is a pattern emerging here," said Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
China is the largest producer of farmed fish, handling 50 percent of the total value of global aquacultured seafood exports around the world. It also is the third largest exporter of seafood to the United States.
The United States has been closely watching Chinese farmed-fish products exports since 2001. In November 2006, FDA said eel imported from China must be shown to be safe before it can be allowed into the United States.
The FDA said a sampling of imported Chinese seafood from October 2006 through May 2007 found more than 15 percent of shipments were contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for this use in the United States.
The FDA said it is not seeking recall of Chinese seafood products already in U.S. stores and is not advising consumers to destroy or return imported farm-raised seafood they may already have in their homes
The substances found in the imported seafood included nitrofuran, malachite green and fluoroquinolone, which the FDA said when used in food animals may increase antibiotic resistance to this critically important class of antibiotics.
None of these substances is approved for use in farm-raised seafood in the United States, and the use of nitrofurans and malachite green in aquaculture is also prohibited by Chinese authorities.
(Additional reporting by Tom Doggett)