FDA completes transfer of jurisdiction over catfish inspection to USDA.

  • As previously covered on this blog, FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) have been implementing a transfer of regulatory authority with respect to catfish inspection.  Moving forward, FSIS will be responsible for conducting inspections for domestically-raised and imported Siluriformes fish.
  • On May 2, FDA announced the completion of the transfer of the domestic and import inspection program for siluriformes fish and fish products to FSIS.
  • Although the industry has been divided in its reactions to the catfish inspection program, it appears that implementation is well underway and that FSIS has already begun working with firms associated with these types of fish and fish products.