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Bill101th CongressFiled Aug 4, 1989Agriculture and Food
H.R. 3155

Fish and Fish Products Safety Act of 1990

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What it doesSummary reported to house amended, part i (Oct 15, 1990)

Fish and Fish Products Safety Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for chemical and microbiological contaminants, parasites, and toxins (CPTs) to assure that fish and fish products are safe for human consumption. Deems fish and fish products unsafe if they: (1) contain a CPT exceeding an established standard or for which no standard has been established; or (2) are harvested in a fish adulteration area.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe safety and sanitation standards for fish and fish product processing. Provides for an official mark signifying conformance with the standards. Directs the Secretary to establish requirements for training and certification in sanitation, quality control, and standards compliance for employees of processing facilities. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to identify CPTs and recommend priorities for the development of standards.

Requires any person who owns or operates a fish or fish products processing facility or who imports fish or fish products to register annually with the Secretary. Allows the Secretary to exempt classes of facilities from registration if the Secretary determines that registration is not needed for enforcement of this Act.

Replaces provisions relating to examination of seafood on request of a packer with provisions directing the Secretary to conduct frequent and random, unannounced inspections of fish and fish product processing facilities. Requires domestic facilities in which imported fish and fish products are processed to be inspected at least at the same rate as other domestic facilities.

Directs the Secretary, for fish or fish products imported from a country without a certificate issued under provisions of this Act, to adopt a program of intensive inspection, sampling, and testing at the port of entry.

Allows the Secretary to: (1) authorize State and other Federal agencies to conduct the inspections of processing facilities; and (2) pay up to 50 percent of the cost of State agencies conducting inspections.

Directs the Secretary, if (on the basis of monitoring) the fish from a particular area are determined likely to be unsafe, to designate the area as a fish adulteration area.

Requires that a shellfish harvesting area be deemed an adulteration area if: (1) the State with jurisdiction does not have an approved program regulating the harvesting; or (2) the State has prohibited shellfish harvesting in the area.

Declares imported fish or fish products misbranded unless the labeling discloses the country in which it is processed and from which it is imported.

Directs the Secretary, on request, to review the fish inspection programs of countries exporting to the United States and, if a country has a program at least as stringent as under this Act and the country will permit inspections, sampling, and testing, to issue a certificate to the country stating that the country maintains such a program.

Authorizes the Secretary to require the recall of fish or fish products which the Secretary finds are reasonably likely to cause a serious, adverse health consequence or death. Directs the Secretary to require owners and operators of processing facilities to adopt tracing methods.

Allows the Secretary, under agreements and on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, to use the personnel and facilities of Federal, State, or local agencies or foreign governments for registrations, inspections, and monitoring under this Act.

Provides for civil penalties for violations of specified provisions of this Act, including injunctions and seizures for certain violations. Prohibits discrimination against any employee for participating in the implementation of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish a comprehensive public awareness campaign on the handling and preparation of fish and fish products.

Authorizes the Secretary to conduct, directly or through grants or contracts, research and demonstrations to assist in implementing this Act.

Directs the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control, to establish an active surveillance system regarding the frequency of human disease in the United States associated with the consumption of fish and fish products.

Authorizes appropriations.

What just happenedOct 16, 1990

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 550.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Dingell, John D. [D-MI-16](D-MI)Sponsor
31 cosponsors31 D
Read on Congress.gov
31cosponsors2committees16actions15subjects
  1. Oct 16, 1990CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 550.

  2. Oct 16, 1990DischargeH12300

    Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries discharged.

    Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  3. Oct 16, 1990Committee5500

    Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries discharged.

    Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  4. Oct 16, 1990CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment.

    Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment Subcommittee
  5. Oct 15, 1990IntroReferralH11200

    Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries for a period ending not later than Oct. 16, 1990 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the committee's jurisdiction pursuant to clause 1(n), rule X.

    Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
  6. Oct 15, 1990CommitteeH12200

    Reported to House (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 99-875, Part I. jurisdiction pursuant to clause 1(n), rule X.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  7. Oct 15, 1990Committee5000

    Reported to House (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 99-875, Part I. jurisdiction pursuant to clause 1(n), rule X.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  8. Mar 13, 1990CommitteeH15000-B

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  9. Mar 13, 1990CommitteeH19000

    Ordered to be Reported Without Recommendation (Amended).

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  10. Feb 21, 1990CommitteeH23000

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  11. Feb 21, 1990CommitteeH22000

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  12. Sep 15, 1989CommitteeH21000

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  13. Sep 1, 1989CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  14. Aug 4, 1989IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  15. Aug 4, 1989IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  16. Aug 4, 1989IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Reported to House amended, Part IOct 15, 199018

Fish and Fish Products Safety Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for chemical and microbiological contaminants, parasites, and toxins (CPTs) to assure that fish and fish products are safe for human consumption. Deems fish and fish products unsafe if they: (1) contain a CPT exceeding an established standard or for which no standard has been established; or (2) are harvested in a fish adulteration area.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe safety and sanitation standards for fish and fish product processing. Provides for an official mark signifying conformance with the standards. Directs the Secretary to establish requirements for training and certification in sanitation, quality control, and standards compliance for employees of processing facilities. Directs the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to identify CPTs and recommend priorities for the development of standards.

Requires any person who owns or operates a fish or fish products processing facility or who imports fish or fish products to register annually with the Secretary. Allows the Secretary to exempt classes of facilities from registration if the Secretary determines that registration is not needed for enforcement of this Act.

Replaces provisions relating to examination of seafood on request of a packer with provisions directing the Secretary to conduct frequent and random, unannounced inspections of fish and fish product processing facilities. Requires domestic facilities in which imported fish and fish products are processed to be inspected at least at the same rate as other domestic facilities.

Directs the Secretary, for fish or fish products imported from a country without a certificate issued under provisions of this Act, to adopt a program of intensive inspection, sampling, and testing at the port of entry.

Allows the Secretary to: (1) authorize State and other Federal agencies to conduct the inspections of processing facilities; and (2) pay up to 50 percent of the cost of State agencies conducting inspections.

Directs the Secretary, if (on the basis of monitoring) the fish from a particular area are determined likely to be unsafe, to designate the area as a fish adulteration area.

Requires that a shellfish harvesting area be deemed an adulteration area if: (1) the State with jurisdiction does not have an approved program regulating the harvesting; or (2) the State has prohibited shellfish harvesting in the area.

Declares imported fish or fish products misbranded unless the labeling discloses the country in which it is processed and from which it is imported.

Directs the Secretary, on request, to review the fish inspection programs of countries exporting to the United States and, if a country has a program at least as stringent as under this Act and the country will permit inspections, sampling, and testing, to issue a certificate to the country stating that the country maintains such a program.

Authorizes the Secretary to require the recall of fish or fish products which the Secretary finds are reasonably likely to cause a serious, adverse health consequence or death. Directs the Secretary to require owners and operators of processing facilities to adopt tracing methods.

Allows the Secretary, under agreements and on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, to use the personnel and facilities of Federal, State, or local agencies or foreign governments for registrations, inspections, and monitoring under this Act.

Provides for civil penalties for violations of specified provisions of this Act, including injunctions and seizures for certain violations. Prohibits discrimination against any employee for participating in the implementation of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish a comprehensive public awareness campaign on the handling and preparation of fish and fish products.

Authorizes the Secretary to conduct, directly or through grants or contracts, research and demonstrations to assist in implementing this Act.

Directs the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control, to establish an active surveillance system regarding the frequency of human disease in the United States associated with the consumption of fish and fish products.

Authorizes appropriations.

Introduced in HouseAug 4, 198900

Fish and Fish Products Safety Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem fish and fish products unsafe for human consumption if they: (1) contain a chemical or microbiological contaminant, parasite, or toxin (CPT) exceeding an established standard or for which no standard has been established; or (2) are harvested in a fish adulteration area.

Deems an area to be a fish adulteration area unless there is in effect a State program regulating area shellfish harvesting or if the State has prohibited shellfish harvesting in the area.

Directs the Secretary to establish standards for: (1) such CPTs; and (2) sanitation and quality control for processing of fish and fish products. Provides for an official mark, displayed on labels, signifying compliance with the processing standards.

Deems a food adulterated if it is deemed unsafe under this Act or if any of it has been processed in violation of the sanitation and quality control standards of this Act. Deems a food misbranded if its label contains an official mark not authorized under this Act.

Provides for: (1) a study by the National Academy of Sciences to identify fish CPTs; and (2) regulations to implement this Act.

Requires any person who owns or operates a fish processing facility and any fish importer to: (1) register annually with the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and (2) notify the Secretary of any product which the person has stopped processing or importing or has recalled, including the reasons for doing so.

Directs the Secretary to conduct announced and unannounced inspections of fish processing facilities. Allows the Secretary to: (1) authorize State agencies to conduct the inspections; and (2) pay up to half of the State cost of the inspections. Directs the Secretary to: (1) issue regulations regarding the inspections, including requirements for a system to trace contaminated fish; (2) conduct monitoring of fish from fish harvest areas and after harvest; and (3) if the fish from a particular harvest area are likely to exceed CPT standards, or contain a CPT for which no standard has been established, to designate the area as a fish adulteration area.

Deems an imported fish or fish product misbranded unless its label discloses the country from which it is imported.

Provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish a public awareness program on the handling and preparation of fish and fish products.

Authorizes the Secretary to conduct, directly or through grants or contracts, research and demonstrations to assist in implementing this Act.

Directs the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control, to establish an active surveillance system to provide an estimate of the frequency of human disease in the United States associated with the consumption of fish and fish products.