US takes steps toward recognition of voluntary third-party certification programs for imported farmed shrimp

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking third-party certification bodies that certify foreign processors of aquacultured shrimp for compliance with FDA's Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations to volunteer to participate in a pilot program to be conducted by FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA).

The goal of the pilot program is to gather technical and operational information that will assist FDA in determining its infrastructure needs, as well as the process for evaluating third-party certification programs, in order to assist FDA in moving towards broader recognition of voluntary third-party certification programs, including third-party certification programs for aquacultured shrimp, at a later time.

Full details: [Docket No. FDA-200844382]