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RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SUBCOMMITTEE FOLLOWING HEARING 

 JIM SALMON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PURCHASING FOR RED LOBSTER 



RED LOBSTER: QUESTIONS FOR SEAFOOD SAFETY HEARING 



1) How will the anticipated European Economic Community seafood standards affect 

 the U.S. exporting seafood industry. Will these standards have any effect on the 

 domestic seafood industry? 



A. Our industry will have to get in gear to meet European seafood standards. The 



HACCP plan will help our industry get into compliance quicker. Both programs 



together can only make seafood products safer and a better quality. They 

 compliment each other. 



2) Do voluntary seafood safety efforts work? 



A. They do work, but the problem is that not 100% of the companies feel they have to 

 participate. Hence, inconsistency and potential problems. Mandatory inspection 

 ensures participation, levels the playing field, and discourages fraud. 



3) Are imported seafoods adequately inspected? 



A. Yes. At this time, foreign packers are more closely monitored than domestic. By 

 going to HACCP for both segments, this will be equitable to all and improve safety 

 and quality. 



4) Should Federal seafood safety programs be consolidated into a single agency? Which 

 agency and why? 



A. Yes. There are already too many interpretations of regulations and authority. One 

 agency, one voice, will help ensure a consistent policy, and set one standard for all 

 to follow. At this time, it looks like FDA has established itself in this leadership 

 role. 



5) Are discretionary State warnings to high-risk groups (e.g. those with liver diseases, 

 gastrointestinal disorders, and AIDS) adequate to ensure safe consimiption of 

 seafood? 



A. No. The key to seafood safety is education. A single Federal agency needs to 

 ensure that these types of messages are reaching consumers through proper 



FOR RED LOBSTER: 



1) In your testimony, you suggested jurisdiction of seafood safety should be consolidated 

 into one federal agency . Which agency would you suggest as a representative of Red 

 Lobster and/or as a member of the National Fisheries Institute? 



It looks like the lead agency should be FDA. It is the simplest solution to the 

 inspection dilemma. NMFS's inspection branch could probably become a part of 

 FDA, so there is no conflict of opinion on regulations and standards. FDA will need 

 the manpower to instinite HACCP. 



