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 experience, FDA's automatic detention program for imports, or 

 the fact that imports receiving further processing in the U.S. 

 become subject to domestic inspection. Moreover, five 

 countries with highly advanced regulatory programs for seafood 

 — Canada, Iceland, Norway, Australia and New Zealand — 

 provide over 30 percent of all imports. Nonetheless, it is 

 true that most imported seafood is not physically sampled or 

 examined by a Federal health official. Increasing the physical 

 sampling and analysis of seafood to statistically significant 

 levels would cost substantial additional public health 

 resources. 



E. Import Examination: MOUs and HACCP 



FDA is pursuing two ways of increasing the scope of coverage 

 for imports. The first involves the development of memoranda 

 of understanding (MOUs) with countries that export seafood to 

 the United States and have recognized inspection programs we 

 can rely on. The purpose of a MOU would be to establish that 

 the regulatory system of an exporting country and the 

 regulatory system in the U.S. are equivalent in their ability 

 to ensure safety. An MOU would provide for regular 

 verification by both countries. Products from a MOU country 

 would not require as much examination by FDA as those from 

 other countries. 



