FSIS Establishes Inspection Program for Siluriformes Fish

The final rule from USDA’s FSIS establishes an inspection program for fish under the order Siluriformes, including catfish. Applying to both domestically-raised and imported Siluriformes fish, the rule was developed in order to implement provisions required by the 2014 Farm Bill. It becomes effective in March 2016. The March 2016 effective date begins an 18-month transitional implementation period. On this date, all Siluriformes fish will be under the regulatory jurisdiction of FSIS and no longer regulated by the U.S. FDA. Before the effective date, countries currently exporting product to the U.S. that wish to continue doing so must provide a list of establishments that currently export, as well as written documentation of their regulatory authority and compliance with existing FDA import requirements.