US Senators move to nullify new catfish inspection rules
US Senators have introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act that would nullify the USDA final rules establishing the catfish inspection programme.
Washington (VNA) - US Senators John McCain and Kelly Ayotte have introduced a resolutဣion of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act that would nullify the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final rules establishing the catfish inspection programme.
Under the Congressional Review Act, the US Congress can overturn actions by a federal agency, like USDA, after a rule is formally published and submitted to the Congress. If the resolution is enacted into law, it would nullify the new catfish inspection rules, which were officially published on December 2, including any portions of the regulations that have already gone into effect.
"We are proud to continue the fight to repeal the USDA catfish inspection office, which is an egregious waste of taxpayer dollars and a classic example of anti-free market protectionism," Senators McCain and Ayotte said in a press release.
"The Obama Administration's establishment of this program comes despite the fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already performs seafood inspections and the Governmental Accountability Office has repeatedly warned that the USDA catfish office would be 'wasteful and duplicative' and would invite retaliation from Asian-Pacific trading partners against American agriculture exports.”
“As a result of this program, the American taxpayer is estimated to be on the hook for 15 million USD a year to pay for USDA catfish inspectors who will be working alongside FDA inspectors doing the exact same job.”
“The true purpose of the catfish program is to erect a trade barrier against foreign catfish suppliers to the economic benefit of a handful of domestic catfish growers in southern states. Over the past several years, we've sponsored legislation to eliminate this program and we urge our colleagues to join us in sending a message that we won't stand for this wasteful catfish inspection office." said the Senators.
According to the USDA, the final rules will become effective in March 2016 and will be applied on both locally raised and imported catfish. The agency will conduct extensive outreach to domestic industry and international partners so that they fully understand requirements of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) prior to its full implementation.
The rule’s effective date of March 2016 begins an 18-month transitional implementation period for both domestic and international producers. During the period, FSIS will re-inspect and conduct species and residue sampling on imported catfish shipments at least quarterly at US import establishments.-VNA
A forum on the export of Vietnamese catfish to the European Union (EU), one of the country’s largest seafood markets, was held in the Belgian capital of Brussels on April 22.
The Mekong Delta needs to recover declining sales of Pangasius (tra) fish by creating value chains, speakers said at a forum on tra fish production held last week in Dong Thap province.
After a hasty start, Vietnam's tra fish industry should now plan an image makeover to improve the quality of exports and be competitive, for the long term, experts said.
Vietnam’s tra fish export to China and Hong Kong (China) recorded a strong growth in January-October, hitting 122 million USD, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 50 percent.
Relevant Vietnamese agencies have been requested to thoroughly study the US’s regulations imposed on Vietnam’s tra and basa fish in order to employ measures to ensure that exports continue.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)
