Safe Food Coalition Asks Congress to Close Revolving Door for Adulterated Food Imports

The Consumer Federation of America joined members of the Safe Food Coalition in urging congressional leaders to enact the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act (H.R. 2715 / S. 3213). The bipartisan legislation would provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with essential authority to require destruction of FDA-regulated products refused entry into the United States when those products present a significant public health concern. Under current law, an importer caught trafficking adulterated products, such as seafood contaminated with banned antibiotics, may retain ownership of the shipment. This has led to attempts to "reimport" goods rejected by customs inspectors at another U.S. port. An estimated 94 percent of American seafood is imported.