“The FDA responded properly in June to place a nationwide ban on seafood imports from China, but the ban does not ensure our nation’s safety if it is not being properly enforced,” Ross said. “I am calling for this investigation because a tremendous risk is posed if the FDA can’t protect the American people from consuming potentially contaminated seafood products.”

This week, the Associated Press reported one out of every four shipments of frozen catfish, shrimp, and eel imported from China makes it past FDA inspectors despite the agency’s efforts to contain and inspect these items at the border.  

In May, Ross called for the FDA to impose a nationwide ban on all Chinese seafood imports which the FDA implemented. However, the recent reports claiming contaminated Chinese seafood were making it through inspection prompted Ross’ call for further investigation.

Ross made his request Thursday in a letter to the Chairman of the FDA, Dr. Andrew Von Eschenbach.

Ross also sent the letter to Representative John Dingell (MI-15), Chairmen of the Energy and Commerce Committee; Representative Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chairman of the Agriculture Committee; and Representative Henry Waxman (CA-30), Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to give them a complete understanding of this matter so that they consider their own investigations in order to find a solution to this problem.

Below is the text of the letter Ross sent to Von Eschenbach:

August 9, 2007

Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach

Commissioner

Food and Drug Administration

Department of Health and Human Services

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD  20857

Dear Dr. Von Eschenbach:

I am writing with concerns regarding a recent Associated Press (AP) report which revealed the Food and Drug Administration’s inability to thoroughly monitor Chinese seafood imported into this country.

I was pleased to hear in June that your agency was taking a stricter and much needed approach toward inspecting Chinese seafood imports by including them on the Import Alert listing and blocking further imports until it could be proven that they were not contaminated. However, according to the AP, one out of every four shipments of frozen catfish, shrimp, and eel imported from China make it past inspectors despite your agency’s efforts to contain and inspect these items at the border. 

The failure of the FDA to gain control at our nation’s borders and block possibly dangerous imports from being distributed into the food supply greatly concerns me. Last year alone, this country imported an estimated 1.06 billion pounds of seafood from China which accounted for approximately 16 percent of American seafood consumption. If Chinese imports continue to increase, a tremendous risk is posed if the FDA can’t protect the American people from consuming potentially contaminated seafood products.

As you very well know, over the past few months we have experienced numerous accounts of substandard products being imported into this country from China. It is unacceptable to allow this to continue; therefore I am requesting a thorough investigation into what is needed to ensure the necessary resources are provided to control the influx of potentially dangerous imports from China.

I am including a copy of the recent AP report for your review. In addition, I am forwarding this correspondence to Representative John Dingell, Chairmen of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative Collin Peterson, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and Representative Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee as I feel that it is important for the various committees have a complete understanding of this matter and consider their own investigation in an attempt to find a solution to this problem.

I look forward to a prompt response with any information regarding proposals that your agency may be considering to remedy this situation.

Sincerely,

Mike Ross

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