H.R. 3706
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 4, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Babin
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
- This Act may be cited as the or the .
SEC. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood
- (a) Definitions
- In this section:
- The term
Administratormeans the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. - The term
appropriate committees of Congressmeans— - The term
key agency leadershipmeans the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard. - The term
red snappermeans the species Lutjanus campechanus. - The term
tunameans the following species of tuna: - The term
Under Secretarymeans the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
- The term
- In this section:
- (b) Standard methodology for identification
- (1) In general
- Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
- (2) Requirements
- Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection—
- is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
- minimizes processing time;
- involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and
- to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke.
- Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection—
- (3) Initial species for identification
- In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock.
- (1) In general
- (c) Report
- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:
- A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).
- A plan for operationalizing such methodology.
- If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable.
- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: