NOAA has also begun to implement a program of increased 

 analytical testing to address product safety problems within its 

 traditional inspection program as well as under the HACCP-based 

 service. 



5. Collect and analyze contaminant and consumption data for 

 use by regulatory authorities and the seafood industry to address 

 safety issues that impact on the utilization of fishery resources 

 for human consumption. 



Contaminant and consumption data are essential to assist 

 regulatory authorities in assessing seafood safety risks and 

 identifying appropriate strategies to manage risks. Uses 

 include decisions to close areas to fishing activity and setting 

 tolerances for contaminants in seafood. 



NOAA is currently developing the Seafood Contaminants Risk 

 Information System to acquire and evaluate available data from 

 NOAA, other government agencies, and domestic and international 

 scientific research on marine biotoxins, pathogenic 

 microorganisms, and chemical contaminants. When this system is 

 fully operational, data will be available to regulators and 

 researchers for use in risk analysis activities, such as 

 establishment of inspection criteria to accept or reject fishery 

 products in commerce and selection of harvest options to minimize 

 consumer exposure to contaminants. 



