WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) sent a letter to Commissioner Califf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the increased inspection of shrimp imports following recent reports of the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) in frozen shrimp products originating from India.
“On March 31, 2023, Saudi Arabia imposed a temporary ban on shrimp imported from India due to the detection of WSSV. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has stated that the ban will remain in place until India provides sufficient guarantees to ensure the safety of exported products and prevent the transmission of WSSV to the fisheries in Saudi Arabia,” writes Congressman Higgins.
The letter emphasizes how WSSV is a contagious and lethal virus affecting penaeid shrimp. “If unaddressed, WSSV has the potential to severely impact the domestic shrimp industry. As a nation that imports a significant amount of seafood, the United States must take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of WSSV within our borders.”
Read the letter here.
Congressman Higgins recently reintroduced legislation to combat foreign seafood dumping, which would protect U.S. seafood producers and processors by holding foreign countries and exporters to the same standard that U.S. producers are held by.
Read more on the legislation here.
