NEWS
& ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOVEMBER 2009
NOAA and FDA to
Combine Resources on Seafood Inspection
(POSTED 11-12-09)
NOAA and the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration unveiled an interagency
agreement today to strengthen seafood inspection and
improve seafood safety and quality.
The agreement formalizes the working arrangements
between NOAA’s Fisheries Service Seafood Inspection
Program and the FDA to reinforce each agency’s efforts
through cooperation and information sharing in the
inspection of fish, fishery products, and
establishments. Inspection agents from both agencies
will work together when appropriate, and NOAA will share
inspection results with FDA.
“Americans are eating an average of 16 pounds of seafood
a year--that’s a lot of fish,” said Jim Balsiger, acting
NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries
Service. “This partnership will help ensure that seafood
consumers—who spent nearly $70 billion on seafood last
year—continue to get safe, healthy seafood through
combining our resources with FDA.”
This new agreement strengthens the two agencies’
partnership and satisfies a Government Accountability
Office recommendation that calls for FDA to consider the
results of NOAA inspections when determining the
frequency of seafood inspections and the use of limited
inspection resources. The agreement formally outlines
the procedures for working together at both the
headquarters and the field levels, and enhances the
credibility of NOAA inspections.
The FDA issues regulations concerning the safety and
security of the nation’s food supply, including seafood.
The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program works with the
seafood industry domestically and overseas to help it
comply with FDA food regulations and meet industry
specifications. More than 30 percent of seafood sold in
the U.S. is inspected under NOAA’s voluntary program.
NOAA seafood inspectors inspect edible products, ranging
from whole fish to formulated products, as well as fish
meal products used for animal foods. NOAA inspectors can
be stationed on vessels and at processing plants and
retail facilities.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's
environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface
of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and
marine resources. Visit
http://www.noaa.gov.
On the
Web:NOAA’s Fisheries Service seafood inspection program:
http://www.seafood.nmfs.noaa.gov/
Contact: Connie Barclay 301-713-2370
CHANGES TO HEALTH CERTIFICATES FOR
FISH AND FISHERIES PRODUCTS SHIPMENTS TO EUROPEAN UNION
(POSTED 11-04-09)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will no longer
issue health certificates required by the EU for export
of fish or fishery products to the European Union (EU)
or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member
countries. The U. S. Department of Commerce Seafood
Inspection Program will continue to issue these
certificates upon request on a fee-for-service basis.
Refer to the Federal Register notice below for more full
details. This action is effective June 16, 2009.
[Federal Register: June 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number
117)]
[Notices]
[Page 29184-29185]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jn09-37]
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Seafood
Inspection Program (NOAA SIP) will become the sole
certifying agency
for all fish and fishery products for export to European
Union (EU) or
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries.
Due to the
large volume of demand for these certificates and the
need for
expedient service, SIP, through this notice, is
announcing a change
from current practices, including fee structure, for
providing Health
Certificates for the EU and EFTA.
USDAs Cooperative
States Research Extension and Education Service (CSREES)
undergoes a name change (POSTED 09-22-09)
On October 1, 2009 the USDA CSREES changed its name to
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm
Bill) called for CSREES to become the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture by October 1, 2009. All current
authorities administered by CSREES will be transferred
to the new institute, which will be led by a
presidentially-appointed director. On September 24,
President Obama named Dr. Roger N. Beachy to be the
first director of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA).
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
8th International
Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture
(POSTED 10-15-09)
CALL for ABSTRACTS / Early Registration Now Open!
Virginia Tech is requesting abstracts for presentations
at the Eighth International Conference on Recirculating
Aquaculture. In addition to publishing a 1-2 page
abstract in the conference proceedings, authors of
accepted abstracts will have the opportunity to share
their research through an oral presentation or as a
poster.
For complete details, go to
http://www.recircaqua.com/abstract.html
Conference organizers have identified the following
session topics:
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in Penaeid Shrimp
Culture
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Salmonids
Recirculating Aquaculture System Technology for Mollusk
Culture
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Process Control
Fish Health/Recirculating Aquaculture Biosecurity
Culture of Algae as an Alternative Fuel Source
Innovative Feeds for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Sustainable Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
In addition to these identified topic sessions, other
sessions will be formed based upon abstracts received,
hence we encourage submissions on any topic related to
recirculating aquaculture.
For submission instructions, go to
http://www.recircaqua.com/abstract.html
For
complete details on the conference, go to http://www.recircaqua.com/icra.html
If you are considering being an exhibitor or sponsor at
the Conference, you can also find complete details
online. Now is the time to begin planning your
attendance and participation in this important biennial
event. If you have any questions, please contact Ms.
Terry Rakestraw by phone (540-231-6805), by fax
(540-231-9293), or by e-mail (aqua@vt.edu).
SEE NEWS ARCHIVES TO REVIEW OCTOBER RELEASES
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