1. USDA
United States Department of Agriculture

2. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Equivalence
FinaalnRdule
“Mandatory IFnisnpaecltRiounloef Fish of the
order Siluriformes and Products Derived
Derived from Such Fish”
from Such Fish” 2

3. Food Safety and Inspection Service
Mission in Action
We are the public health agency in the USDA responsible for ensuring that meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled.
Our Authority
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), 1906
Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA), 1946 (select sections)
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), 1957
Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA), 1970
Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), 1958 3

4. Food Safety and Inspection Service
Foodborne Illness
How FSIS prevents foodborne illness 4

5. Where We Work
North MarianaIslands
Hawaii
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Puerto Rico
Alaska
US Vwgin Islands
usda.gov/wps/porta 1/information al/districtoffices 5

6. the Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Mandatory Inspection of Siluriformes Fish – Farm Bill
Approximately every five years, Farm Bills are developed and proposed by the U.S. Congress
Signed into law by the President
Sets forth guidance and policy for
the Department of Agriculture

7. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Mandatory Inspection of Siluriformes Fish – 2008 Farm Bill
The 2008 Farm Bill
Amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act to put “Catfish” under FSIS’s jurisdiction

8. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Mandatory Inspection of Siluriformes Fish – Proposed Rule
On February 24, 2011, FSIS published the proposed rule, “Mandatory Inspection of Catfish and Catfish Products”
It proposed a new Subchapter of FSIS regulations
FSIS asked for comment on the definition of “Catfish” and other issues

9. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Mandatory Inspection of Fish – 2014 Farm Bill
The 2014 Farm Bill
Amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide that:
The term “amenable species” now includes fish of the order Siluriformes

10. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Mandatory Inspection of Fish – Final Rule
On December 2, 2015, FSIS published the final rule, “Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish”
The final rule establishes an inspection program for Siluriformes fish and fish products
Domestic and imported Siluriformes fish and fish products will now be inspected by FSIS 10

11. Siluriformes Fish and Fish Products:
Species now under FSIS’s jurisdiction
ORDER
FAMILY
ACCEPTABLE COMMON OR USUAL NAME IN THE U.S.
Blue Catfish or Catfish Channel Catfish or Catfish White Catfish or Catfish
Black Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Yellow Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish Brown Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish
Flat Bullhead or Bullhead or Catfish
Whitespotted fish or Chinese fish Broadhead Clarias Fish
Walking Clarias Fish
Swai or Sutchi or Striped Pangasius or Tra
Basa
Mekong Giant Pangasius Giant Pangasius
GENUS AND SPECIES
Ictalurus furcatus Ictalurus punctatus Ameiurus catus Ameiurus melas Ameiurus natalis Ameiurus nebulosus Ameiurus platycephalus
Clarias macrocephalus Clarias batrachus
Pangasianodon (or Pangasius) hypophthalmus Pangasius bocourti
Pangasius gigas
Pangasius sanitwongsei
Ictaluridae
SILURIFORMES*
Clariidae
Clarias fuscus
Pangasiidae 11

12. Food Safety and Inspection Service: Code of Federal Regulations
Where are FSIS Regulations Found?
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) at
Title 9
Chapter III – Food Safety and Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture
Subchapter A – Agency Organization and Terminology; Mandatory Meat and Poultry Products Inspection and Voluntary Inspection and Certification
Subchapters B and C (reserved)
Subchapter D – Food Safety and Inspection Service
Administrative Provisions
Subchapter E – Regulatory Requirement Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act
Subchapter F – Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products of Such Fish (Parts )

13. Food Safety and Inspection Service: Regulatory Timeline
September 1,
2017
December 2,
2015
Final Rule published
March 1,
2016
Effective Date
18-month
Full
90 days
Transitional
enforcement
Period

14. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Enforcement during 18-Month Transitional Period
Adulterated product:
Produced without the benefit of inspection
Fails to present for re-inspection
(imports)
Prohibited residue
Undeclared allergen
Prepared, packed, or held under conditions that contaminate it
Misbranded product:
Product offered for sale as “Catfish,” but does not contain fish of the family Ictaluridae
Net weight over-declared
Missing label

15. Implementation Strategy
Provide outreach to affected establishments producing Siluriformes fish and fish products, to ensure that they understand the new requirements.
Conduct sampling and testing of Siluriformes fish and fish
products for species and residues to ensure that product is
not adulterated or misbranded.

16. Implementation Strategy
Starting March 1, 2016, FSIS began:
Assigning inspection program personnel to domestic establishments that slaughter and slaughter and process Siluriformes.
Visiting domestic Siluriformes fish processing-only establishments (includes establishments that process more than Siluriformes), at least once per quarter. . 16

17. Initial Documentation Requirements for Foreign Countries
Siluriformes Fish:
Initial Documentation Requirements for Foreign Countries
By the effective date, March 1, 2016, foreign countries that currently export Siluriformes fish and fish products to the U.S., and intend to continue during the 18- month Transitional Period, had to submit:
A list of establishments with establishment name and number
Documentation to demonstrate their authority to regulate the growing and processing of Siluriformes fish for human food and assure compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) good manufacturing practices, HACCP plans, Sanitation Control Procedures, and other regulatory requirements 17

18. 18-Month Transitional Period
Siluriformes Fish:
18-Month Transitional Period
During the 18-month Transitional Period:
FSIS will recognize the initial documentation foreign countries submit
Foreign countries seeking to continue exporting Siluriformes fish and fish products to the United States after full enforcement must initiate a request for equivalence and provide documentation showing its system is equivalent by September 1, 2017
FSIS has encouraged foreign countries to initiate this process as soon as possible 18

19. Food Safety and Inspection Service: Implementation – Imported Product
Starting April 15, 2016, FSIS began:
Reinspecting imported product on an at least quarterly basis
Informing importers/brokers
which shipments are selected for
reinspection
Selected import shipments must be presented at an Official Import Inspection Establishment for reinspection by FSIS.
Reinspection will include testing
for residues and speciation 19

20. 18-Month Transitional Period
Siluriformes Fish:
18-Month Transitional Period
During the 18-month Transitional Period:
If FSIS finds imported Siluriformes fish and fish products that are adulterated (i.e., contain a prohibited residue or have been held under insanitary conditions that result in direct product contamination) or misbranded (i.e., labeled “Catfish” when the product does not contain fish of the family Ictaluridae or the net weight is over- declared), the products will be refused entry. 20

21. FSIS has set up an email box where questions
Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Contacting FSIS
FSIS has set up an box where questions
can be submitted:
FSIS’s Siluriformes web page has extensive information, including News and Information, Statutes and Regulations, Reports and MOU’s, and Resources:

22. Food Safety and Inspection Service:
Questions?