Important FSIS Notification: August 2, 2017, Implementation of Siluriformes Reinspection by the USDA: Food Safety Inspection Service
Effective Date: August 2, 2017
On July 5, 2017, We received a notification from U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding the publication of Federal Register Notice 82 FR30721, stating that:
All shipments of imported Siluriformes fish and fish products entering the United States (U.S.) must be presented to FSIS at an Official Import Inspection Establishment within 30 days for reinspection by FSIS personnel.
Overview
Beginning of last year, FSIS has announced that during the transitional period (March 1, 2016 to September 1, 2017), FSIS will select a subset of imported shipments of Siluriformes fish and fish products for reinspection, which will include testing for species, chemical residues, and Salmonella.
Important: Only certain foreign establishments are recognized as eligible to export to the United States:
Products must be reinspected upon arrival into the U.S. at the following approved I-House facilities only:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/mpi-directory
*WHEN IMPORTING SILURIFORMES FISH, PLEASE CONTACT FLEGENHEIMER AND ADVISE YOUR PREFERRED FSIS INSPECTION FACILITY*
Siluriformes fish may include fish other than catfish. There are fish in the order Siluriformes that are not catfish. Only fish classified within the family Ictaluridae can be labeled as “catfish” (9 CFR 541.7(d)(2)).
Acceptable common or usual names for different Siluriformes fish
Ictaluridae
Blue Catfish or Catfish Ictalurus furcatus
Channel Catfish or Catfish Ictalurus punctatus
White Catfish or Catfish Ameiurus catus
Black Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Ameiurus melas
Yellow Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Ameiurus natalis
Brown Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Ameiurus nebulosus
Flat Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Ameiurus platycephalus
Clariidae
Whitespotted fish or Chinese fish Clarias fuscus
Sharptooth Clarias Fish Clarias gariepinus
Broadhead Clarias Fish Clarias macrocephalus
Walking Clarias Fish Clarias batrachus
Pangasius
Swai or Sutchi or Striped Pangasius or Tra Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Basa Pangasius bocourti
Mekong Giant Pangasius Pangasius gigas
Giant Pangasius Pangasius sanitwongsei
* This list is not all-inclusive. A complete list is available in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) at http://www.itis.gov.
To Read the FSIS Letter to Importers/ Customs Brokers:
To Read the Final Rule:
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions – Siluriformes Fish and Fish Product
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes/faq-siluriformes
Other Resources :
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes/operations-inspection