One of my many pleasant memories of Chile is the sunny Sept. 1 lunch served for 350 people in a huge white tent during the “Conference International Berries 2016” held in Talca. Most of the conversation was in Spanish, putting me at a disadvantage. Every few minutes, I was getting
Continue Reading Letter From the Editor: Lessons about trade and food safety
UPDATED: Foreign catfish discover the U.S. really does have borders
Editor’s note on update: A list of specific retail locations that received the recalled product is now available on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website. Click here for the list which may be updated as additional information becomes available. The U.S. border has suddenly become meaningful to importers
Continue Reading UPDATED: Foreign catfish discover the U.S. really does have borders
Food Safety Groups Oppose Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership
The full text of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (TPP) was released last week, and after initial reviews of the proposed treaty, concerns raised by food safety advocates during the negotiations have not been mollified. Debbie Barker, International Programs Director for the Center for Food Safety, says the predominant issues with
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Harmonization in Food Safety Starts From Within
We can all agree that consumers should never have to worry whether their food is safe. Where agreement doesn’t exist, however, is in the how. How do we best monitor for chemical, biological and physical contaminants, how do we report and to whom, and how much regulation is too much?
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Congress Gives President Obama Fast-Track Authority for Trade Deals
A contentious trade bill passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday and is headed to the president’s desk. The Senate voted 60-38 to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which gives trade deals a “fast track” through Congress where lawmakers would only get an up-or-down vote without being able to add amendments.
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Proposed Trade Deal Prompts Concern Over Imported Shrimp
Members of the U.S. shrimp industry are voicing concerns that elements of a major trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, could weaken the ability of regulators to reject unsafe seafood imports. The concern arises as more shrimp imports from Southeast Asia are testing positive for banned antibiotics and foodborne pathogens. 
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Presidential Task Force Releases Seafood Fraud Final Action Plan
The Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud has released its final action plan for implementing the 15 recommendations issued in December. The plan, unveiled Sunday at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston, includes measures to create and expand domestic partnerships to
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Coalition Opposes Presidential ‘Fast Track’ to Trade Deal
A coalition of House Democrats and environmental, labor, faith, food safety and other groups have intensified their opposition to a provision granting the president “fast track” authority to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through Congress without amendments and with limited debate. TPP is the massive free trade agreement currently under
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Members of Congress Ask That Seafood Safety Be Part of TPP Negotiation
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) sent a letter to the Obama Administration Thursday asking that public health be a focus during the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement. The lawmakers are concerned that, as result of expanded trade with
Continue Reading Members of Congress Ask That Seafood Safety Be Part of TPP Negotiation