FDA’s imported catfish ban may have no impact on the area’s fish farmers

ARKANSAS - The decision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban all imported catfish from China has been met with universal praise, and everyone from legislators to farmers has been satisfied with the action. The decision, however, may only be felt by consumers and not Southeast Arkansas farmers.

The FDA decided to place the ban on China’s fish after conducting a targeted sampling, which determined the imported seafood contained drugs banned in the U.S. The FDA ban is on all farm-raised catfish, basa, shrimp, dace and eel from China.

Dr. Carole Engle, director of the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said that although she realizes the economic and political reasons behind such a move with China, she is more enthusiastic about the health benefits that will arise, especially from consumers in Arkansas.

“Obviously I am very pleased with the regulations and what it means for the health of those in Arkansas,” Engle said. “It is important for them to have taken this action in order to make sure that those who consume catfish can know that there is nothing harmful that could affect them.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross requested the ban in a letter he wrote to the commissioner of the FDA, asking that an investigation be made on all imported Chinese fish being sold under the guise of catfish.

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Source: Pine Bluff Commercial

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