Annual U.S. Shrimp Certification Leaves Some Countries on Case-by Case Basis
SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by Ken Coons - May 5, 2003 - The U.S. State Department has issued its annual certification that lists countries whose sea turtle protection programs have been found to be equivalent to that imposed on U.S. shrimpers.
According to an NFI report, Indonesia, Venezuela and Honduras are not among the certified, and Costa Rica just squeaked by.
U.S. importers can still bring in shrimp from non-certified nations if the individual shipment has been certified by a government official of the exporting country as being turtle-safe.
However for Venezuela and Honduras, only farmed shrimp or artisanally caught shrimp qualifies for this shipment-by-shipment exemption.
A State Department form (DS2031) is required to accompany all imports of shrimp.
Ken Coons Seafood.com News 1-781-861-1441 Email comments to John Sackton and Ken Coons