Action Needed: FTC Proposed Rule Defines “Made in the USA”
On July 16, 2020, the Federal Register published a notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) related to “Made in USA” and other unqualified claims of U.S. origin on product labels. The proposed rule would prohibit entities for marketing goods as having been “Made in the U.S.A.” unless (1) final assembly or processing of the product occurs […]
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CBP FORMALLY REVOKES ERRONEOUS COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN RULING ON COOKED SHRIMP AND ISSUES REMINDER REGARDING MARKING REQUIREMENTS
In July, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formally modified and corrected a January 2017 ruling letter (NY N281670) erroneously holding that Indian shrimp exported to Guatemala for cooking and peeling had been substantially transformed through its processing in Guatemala such that the appropriate country-of-origin of the cooked shrimp for marking purposes in the United States was Guatemala. In written […]
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Revoke Erroneous Country-of-Origin Ruling for Cooked Shrimp
In response to a request for comments issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Southern Shrimp Alliance formally submitted extensive written comments in support of the agency’s proposal to modify and revoke a ruling letter issued in January 2017 regarding the country-of-origin of certain cooked shrimp imported into the United States. On January 3, 2017, CBP issued a […]
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North Carolina Company Sentenced for Mislabeling Imported, Farm-Raised Shrimp as Wild-Caught Domestic Shrimp
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice (Justice Department) announced that Alphin Brothers Inc., a North Carolina-based seafood processor and wholesale distributor, was sentenced in federal court for falsely labeling imported shrimp. As part of a plea agreement reach on February 10, 2015, the company pleaded guilty to one felony count of making or submitting false records in violation of the […]
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Seafood Distributor Sentenced for Mislabeling Shrimp
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Richard Stowell, of United Seafood Imports, had been sentenced to two years of probation and six months of home confinement for mislabeling imported shrimp products sold in the U.S. market. Mr. Stowell’s sentencing follows a related criminal conviction and sentencing in March of this year of Mark Platt, of Shifco Inc., […]
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U.S. Shrimpers Applauds Alabama Ban of Chinese Catfish, Calls for Increased Testing of Imported Seafood Nationwide
Tarpon Springs, FL— The Southern Shrimp Alliance (“SSA”) applauds the action of Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks to protect consumers by banning the sale of catfish from China after illegal antibiotics were found in the majority of food safety tests. In light of the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) failure to sufficiently test imported seafood for contaminants, SSA is calling […]
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Statement on the Sustainability of U.S. Wild-Caught Shrimp
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is committed to sustainable management of commercial and recreational fisheries and the preservation of marine ecosystems. U.S. shrimpers harvest America’s favorite seafood from sustainable stocks and use fishing gear that reduces the impact on the marine environments. The traditional way of life known by generations of shrimping families depends on healthy oceans. We are committed […]
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Voluntary Food Labeling is Not COOL
WASHINGTON, DC – The Southern Shrimp Alliance denounced legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Charles Stenholm, D-Texas, as an attempt to kill the country–of-origin labeling (COOL) law passed as part of the 2002 farm bill. The Goodlatte-Stenholm legislation would repeal the mandatory labeling provision and, instead, maintain a voluntary system. “Companies have had the ability to voluntarily […]