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NOAA has participated in bilateral and multilateral fora 

 regarding the effects of seafood standards, specifications, and 

 inspection requirements on international trade. Activities have 

 included the U.S. /Canada Free Trade Agreement and semi-annual 

 consultations with the European Community. NOAA heads the U.S. 

 delegation to the Fish and Fishery Products Committee. NOAA 

 representatives also serve as part of the U.S. delegation on 

 several other committees of the Codex Alimentarius Commission — 

 the body responsible for establishing international food 

 standards. 



4. Provide scientific and technical support for inspection 

 and risk management activities. 



A variety of activities under the PQ&S program provide 

 scientific and technical support for the voluntary inspection 

 program. NOAA's HACCP-based service that was introduced last 

 year requires each participating facility to employ at least one 

 person trained in HACCP principles and certified by NMFS. In 

 addition to training NOAA inspectors in HACCP principles, NMFS 

 provides training for industry personnel on a fee basis, and has 

 developed an examination to provide assurance that individuals 

 have sufficient knowledge of HACCP principles to participate in 

 the HACCP-based inspection service. The recognition and 

 expansion of HACCP techniques domestically and internationally 

 will continue to require extensive investment in training. 



