Imported Seafood Quality Enforcement Act

Increased Food Safety Standards: The bill requires that seafood from a foreign country can only be imported if the Secretary certifies that the country uses reliable analytical methods to meet United States standards for manufacturing, processing, and holding (Section 2(a)(1)).

Rigorous Oversight of Foreign Facilities: Foreign facilities that export seafood to the U.S. must undergo at least one inspection annually, with additional follow-up inspections as needed, to ensure they are meeting U.S. standards (Section 2(a)(2)).

Strict Testing for New Entrants: To ensure quality from the start, the first 15 shipments from a new exporter must be inspected and tested by the Secretary (Section 2(b)(2)).

Protection Against Health Risks: If a shipment is found to pose significant health risks to humans, the bill requires that the shipment be destroyed (Section 2(c)(4)).

State-Level Cooperation: The Secretary can establish a program to provide training and grants to States, allowing them to assist in the inspection, testing, and certification of imported seafood (Section 3(a) and (c)).

Financial Burdens on Exporters: The Secretary is authorized to impose fees on exporters to cover the costs of maintaining the inspection service (Section 2(b)(4)).

Strict Penalties for Failed Shipments: Exporters that fail inspections may face increased scrutiny, such as having every subsequent shipment inspected until 15 consecutive shipments pass (Section 2(b)(3)(A)).

Suspension of Import Privileges: If an exporter has more than three failed shipments in a single year, they may be prohibited from importing seafood into the United States for the following year (Section 2(b)(3)(B)(i)).

Significant Civil Penalties: Making false statements regarding tests or inspections can result in civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation, and up to $1,100,000 for subsequent violations within a 3-year period (Section 2(b)).

Shipment Destruction or Rejection: Shipments that fail to meet safety standards may be detained or destroyed (Section 2(c)(1)), and those refused admission must be labeled "UNITED STATES: REFUSED ENTRY" (Section 2(c)(2)).