NOAA Fisheries’ Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce has updated the regulations for its Seafood Inspection Program for the first time since 1971. The revisions aim to modernize inspection processes, reduce complexity, and save time for stakeholders while maintaining the reliability of inspection and certification results.
The updated regulations, proposed in April 2024, incorporated feedback from industry stakeholders but ultimately did not change after public comments. The new rules are designed to adapt to emerging technologies and evolving industry requirements, streamlining operations and improving efficiency in seafood inspection, grading, sampling, and certification.