Sponsors
The bill improves U.S. consumer safety and regulatory clarity for imported shrimp but likely raises prices and compliance burdens that could reduce supply and harm foreign producers and some U.S. businesses.
Consumers across the U.S. will face a lower risk of contaminated or unsafe imported shrimp because the FDA can block shrimp from countries whose inspection systems do not meet equivalence criteria.
U.S. importers, retailers, and small businesses gain clearer, more predictable standards for shrimp imports because foreign governments must demonstrate legal/regulatory equivalence for FDA review.
State and federal policymakers (and the public) get increased oversight and transparency because the Secretary must report within one year and then annually on implementation.
Middle-class families, consumers, and retailers may face higher shrimp prices and reduced availability if imports from noncompliant countries are blocked, increasing grocery costs.
Importers and foreign suppliers will incur added compliance costs and paperwork to demonstrate equivalence, which could raise costs for businesses and disrupt trade relationships and supply chains.
Workers in exporting countries and immigrant communities tied to the shrimp trade risk losing market access if their governments cannot or will not meet the criteria, harming livelihoods abroad and reducing supplier diversity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Blocks shrimp imports from countries that don't negotiate FDA arrangements or demonstrate equivalent shrimp inspection/enforcement systems.
Introduced February 20, 2025 by Cindy Hyde-Smith · Last progress February 20, 2025
Requires the Food and Drug Administration to secure agreements with foreign governments that oversee shrimp facilities and bans shrimp imports from countries that do not enter those agreements or whose shrimp inspection systems are not deemed equivalent. Equivalence focuses on adequate staffing to ensure uniform enforcement and enforcement of rules addressing conditions in which shrimp are raised and transported to processors. Adds a rule that shrimp from noncomplying countries are considered adulterated, sets deadlines for the FDA to seek agreements and for the import ban to begin, and requires initial and annual reports to Congress on implementation.