U.S. representatives in Congress are making another push to pass a bill that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to destroy imported seafood that is refused entry due to contamination.

“Billions of pounds of uninspected seafood continue to enter our country, causing major health concerns,” U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) said in a statement. “We must prioritize the health and safety of the American people by holding foreign shipments to the same high standards that our U.S. producers face. In my opinion, foreign products don’t even come close to the quality of Louisiana seafood. This legislation provides the FDA with the authority to destroy illegal seafood imports and ensures that contaminated products don’t reach American markets.”

Currently, seafood that is refused entry to the U.S. after a failed inspection can be exported again to another country. However, since only a fragment of seafood imports are actually inspected before entering the U.S., unscrupulous importers will often try to “reexport” failed products to the U.S. in the hope that the seafood will avoid inspection on a second go.

The Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act would prevent any attempts to reexport contaminated seafood by enabling the FDA to destroy food products that fail an inspection.

“Giving these products back to the foreign shipper does little to incentivize them to address safety problems before shipping products to this country,” Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director John Williams said in a statement supporting the bill. “Imported shrimp and seafood products that are potentially dangerous for consumers need to be destroyed.”

Higgins and fellow lawmaker U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-Louisiana) introduced a version of The Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act last year, although no action was taken on it before the end of the year and the end of the Congress. By reintroducing the bill in the new Congress, Higgins and Carter are hopeful the bill will receive a hearing and ultimately be passed into law.

“This legislation will protect Louisiana’s health and support our seafood economy. By granting the FDA the necessary authority to destroy food products that fail to meet our strict health and safety standards, we are closing a dangerous loophole that has allowed contaminated seafood to enter our markets. This bill protects consumers from potential health risks and upholds the integrity of our food supply chain, while supporting Louisiana fishermen and seafood processors,” Carter said.

Read the full article written by Nathan Strout, Seafood Source. This article is republished with permission.