American Seafood Integrity and Transparency Act (ASITA)

A Federal Bill to Restore Seafood Sovereignty, End Unsafe Imports, and Protect American Consumers and Fishermen

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “American Seafood Integrity and Transparency Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Act is to:

1. Reduce foreign seafood imports to below 50% of total U.S. seafood consumption by 2035;
2. Protect U.S. fisheries, seafood processors, and coastal communities from fraudulent and unfair global competition;
3. Safeguard public health by enforcing universal seafood import inspections;
4. Eliminate taxpayer subsidies for inspecting imported seafood by requiring importers to pay the full cost;
5. Ensure consumers are fully informed about the origin and safety of the seafood they purchase and consume.

SECTION 3. FINDINGS

Congress finds the following:

1. Over 90% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported, often from countries with weak labor, environmental, and food safety standards.
2. The FDA currently inspects less than 2% of seafood imports and tests fewer than 0.1% for banned antibiotics, carcinogens, and contaminants.
3. Many foreign producers use harmful substances such as chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and malachite green—known to cause cancer, organ damage, and antibiotic resistance.
4. Imported seafood has been repeatedly linked to major U.S. health outbreaks, including:
   • Salmonella in imported shrimp (CDC, 2019–2022)
   • Listeria in imported smoked salmon (FDA recall, 2015)
   • Vibrio vulnificus from imported oysters and shellfish
5. U.S. seafood producers must meet strict regulations, yet compete against cheap imports often mislabeled as “local” or “domestic.”
6. U.S. taxpayers currently fund the inspection infrastructure that enables these unsafe imports, placing an unfair burden on American families and businesses.
7. It is in the national interest to restore America’s seafood independence, enhance food security, and promote economic fairness.

SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS

• Seafood: All edible marine or freshwater life, including shrimp, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
• Imported seafood: Seafood harvested, processed, or packaged outside the United States.
• Domestic seafood: Seafood harvested in U.S. waters or by U.S.-licensed vessels, and processed within the United States.
• Covered establishments: Restaurants, grocery chains, seafood markets, food service distributors, and online delivery platforms.
• Importer of record: The entity responsible for bringing seafood into the United States and paying applicable inspection fees.

SECTION 5. NATIONAL IMPORT REDUCTION MANDATE

1. It shall be the policy of the United States to reduce the volume of imported seafood to no more than 50% of total domestic seafood consumption by December 31, 2035.
2. The Department of Commerce and the USDA shall, within 12 months:
   • Publish a National Domestic Seafood Supply Plan, including infrastructure needs, processing capacity expansion, workforce development, and sustainable aquaculture support.
   • Establish annual benchmarks to reduce import volume and increase domestic production accordingly.

SECTION 6. UNIVERSAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENT

1. No seafood may enter the United States without undergoing physical inspection.
   A minimum of 99% of all imported seafood shall be inspected upon arrival at the port of entry.
2. All inspections shall test for:
   • Residual antibiotics and chemicals
   • Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites
   • Species verification (DNA testing where applicable)
   • Country of origin compliance
3. There shall be no exemptions based on country, trade partner status, volume, or prior history.
4. FDA and USDA shall publish quarterly public reports detailing inspection rates, violations, and enforcement actions.

SECTION 7. IMPORTER-PAYS INSPECTION SYSTEM

1. All costs associated with inspection, sampling, testing, and administration of foreign seafood shall be paid by the importer of record.
2. The FDA shall establish a Seafood Import Inspection Fee Schedule, calibrated to fully fund:
   • Routine and randomized inspections
   • Facility certification programs
   • Enforcement actions and administrative personnel
3. It is unlawful to sell, distribute, or label imported seafood in the U.S. unless inspection fees have been paid in full.
4. Fines for noncompliance shall begin at $25,000 per violation, with repeated violations subject to import bans.

SECTION 8. MANDATORY ORIGIN DISCLOSURE

1. All covered establishments shall label seafood origin on:
   • Menus (printed or digital)
   • In-store displays and packaging
   • Online ordering platforms
2. Labels must clearly state:
   • “Caught in the USA”
   • “Farmed in Vietnam”
   • “Imported from China,” etc.
3. The use of terms like “local,” “fresh catch,” “Carolina-caught,” or “Gulf wild” is prohibited unless documentation proves the seafood meets domestic sourcing and harvesting criteria.
4. Failure to comply shall result in:
   • Civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident
   • Public listing on the Seafood Fraud Enforcement Registry

SECTION 9. FEDERAL PROCUREMENT REFORM

1. All federal, state, and publicly funded institutions (e.g., schools, military, hospitals) must ensure that at least 75% of seafood purchases are domestically sourced.
2. Exceptions may only be granted:
   • During documented shortages of domestic supply
   • Upon submission of alternative sourcing justifications
   • With approval from USDA or GSA
3. Noncompliant procurement contracts shall be subject to automatic review, cancellation, or public audit.

SECTION 10. VERIFIED AMERICAN SEAFOOD CERTIFICATION

1. The Verified American Seafood certification program shall be initially operated by the independent nonprofit organization Know Your Catch, in compliance with standards set forth in this Act.
2. Eligibility requires:
   • A minimum of 75% of seafood sold or served is U.S.-sourced;
   • Full traceability from vessel to point-of-sale;
   • Compliance with labeling, fraud prevention, and inspection mandates outlined in this Act.
3. Certified vendors shall receive:
   • Federal marketing support and inclusion in USDA promotional materials;
   • Placement in the national registry of approved vendors;
   • Authorization to display the Verified American Seafood seal;
   • Priority eligibility for applicable USDA grants and federal procurement programs.
4. Authorization for Federal Partnership and Funding:
   • The USDA is authorized to adopt, administer, or co-administer the Verified American Seafood program if:
     • The program demonstrates operational integrity;
     • It aligns with national food labeling and consumer protection standards.
   • The USDA may enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, or grants with Know Your Catch or its successors to:
     • Expand, support, or federalize the certification program;
     • Facilitate nationwide implementation and oversight;
     • Develop future iterations or federally integrated seafood transparency seals.
5. Transition Clause:
   • If at any time the USDA or another federal agency chooses to assume full administrative control of the certification program, the agency shall:
     • Maintain or strengthen the program’s sourcing, labeling, and verification standards;
     • Retain consumer trust through full public disclosure of any revisions;
     • Recognize prior certifications awarded by Know Your Catch during transition.

SECTION 11. TRADE ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATOR LIST

1. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in cooperation with NOAA and FDA, shall:
   • Investigate foreign producers engaged in fraud, labor violations, and banned chemical use
   • Maintain a Seafood Exporter Watch List published quarterly
2. Countries or companies found in violation may be subject to:
   • Elevated tariffs
   • Full or partial bans on seafood exports to the U.S.
   • Revocation of any previous trade exemptions

SECTION 12. NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

1. The USDA, in coordination with Know Your Catch, shall launch and fund a nationwide consumer campaign:
   • Titled “Know Your Catch”
   • Educating the public about seafood fraud, health risks, and how to identify verified seafood
2. The campaign shall include:
   • Social media, public service announcements, restaurant outreach, and printable materials
   • Tools for verifying vendors, reading labels, and reporting violations

SECTION 13. IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Act shall take effect 180 days after enactment.
2. Agencies shall begin enforcement of:
   • Inspection protocols within 6 months
   • Fee collection systems within 12 months
   • Annual reporting benchmarks within 18 months