Here’s some news for all you seafood lovers out there, and I know there are a lot of you.
According to Food Safety News, a federal court has ruled in favor of the implementation of The Seafood Traceability Rule, which is a new U.S. federal plan to combat seafood fraud. The Rule will require the fishing industry to trace their catches by species and origin, from boat or farm, to the U.S. border. The Rule is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
The National Fisheries Institute and eight seafood companies filed a lawsuit to try to stop the rule, arguing that trying to keep track of the seafood entering the country was too complex and that the Commerce Department didn’t have the authority to oversee the rule, but their lawsuit was defeated by a US District Court Judge.
The National Fisheries Institute warns that it will cost $53 million dollars in recordkeeping expenses alone and these costs will be passed on to the consumer.
But consumers have been hearing story after story lately of how the fish we are being sold is mislabeled, deliberately or not. In my humble opinion, the public wants and deserves to know what seafood they are purchasing and where it is from. By the way, the rule only pertains to imported seafood, and shouldn’t t affect our local fisherman.
This is Joan Trimble wishing you wellness.
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