FDA ending seafood EU Export Certificates
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it intends to stop issuing export certificates for fish and fishery products that are shipped to the European Union and the European Free Trade Association, effective June 17.
The agency had originally intended to discontinue the certificate's issuance on Feb. 17, stating the industry's demand for EU Export Certificates continue to 'rise dramatically' and it can no longer justify the use of limited food safety resources to issue these certificates. After publication of a notice on Jan. 15, the FDA received numerous industry comments and decided to extend the phase-out period.
Seafood processors and other operations involved in exporting seafood to the EU may continue to obtain EU Export Certificates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seafood Inspection Program.
For more details, access the revised document 'Guidance for Industry: Referral Program from the Food and Drug Administration to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seafood Inspection Service for the Certification of Fish and Fishery Products for Export to the European Union and the European Free Trade Association' on the FDA Web site.
