FDA and U.S. Customs Update on Seafood Enforcement

Moderator: Peter Quinter, GrayRobinson, P.A.

Speakers: 
Dean Leaman, Certified Group
Todd Owen, Cross Border Advisory Network, LLC

The two major Federal law enforcement agencies, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) regulate the importation and distribution of seafood and fishery products in the United States. The FDA uses a methodology to target and inspect imported seafood, then allow it to proceed or refuse its entry into the United States. Customs also targets and inspects seafood shipments and has a new Withhold Release Order process to prohibit the importation of seafood made with forced labor. Customs continues collecting antidumping duties on shrimp from India, fish fillets from Vietnam, and many other seafood products from around the world. There are several penalties for importing misbranded or adulterated seafood. Learn how to lower your risk of being targeted and what to do when your seafood is selected for examination or your company has been added to the FDA's Import Alert list.