South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004
H. 3708
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Ceips, Herbkersman, Lloyd, Young, Bailey, Barfield, Bowers, Breeland, R.Brown, Chellis, Clemmons, Edge, Gilham, Hagood, Haskins, Hinson, Keegan, Limehouse, Mack, Mahaffey, Merrill, Miller, Rivers, Scarborough, Umphlett, Viers and Witherspoon
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bbm\9496sd03.doc
Introduced in the House on February 27, 2003
Introduced in the Senate on March 11, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Summary: Chloramphenicol and other banned veterinary drugs in imported shrimp, General Assembly expressing concern and calling on federal government to improve food import restrictions
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
2/27/2003 House Introduced HJ36
2/27/2003 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions HJ36
3/5/2003 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial Resolutions HJ66
3/6/2003 House Adopted, sent to Senate HJ23
3/11/2003 Senate Introduced SJ11
3/11/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources SJ11
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
2/27/2003
3/5/2003
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 5, 2003
H.3708
Introduced by Reps. Ceips, Herbkersman, Lloyd, Young, Bailey, Barfield, Bowers, Breeland, R.Brown, Chellis, Clemmons, Edge, Gilham, Hagood, Haskins, Hinson, Keegan, Limehouse, Mack, Mahaffey, Merrill, Miller, Rivers, Scarborough, Umphlett, Viers and Witherspoon
S. Printed 3/5/03--H.
Read the first time February 27, 2003.
THE COMMITTEE ON
INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H.3708) expressing the concern of the General Assembly over the presence of chloramphenicol and other banned veterinary drugs in imported shrimp and calling on the federal government to take immediate and focused efforts, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
ROBERT W. LEACH, SR. for Committee.
[3708-1]
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
EXPRESSING THE CONCERN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER THE PRESENCE OF CHLORAMPHENICOL AND OTHER BANNED VETERINARY DRUGS IN IMPORTED SHRIMP AND CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE AND FOCUSED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT OF FOOD IMPORT RESTRICTIONS OF SEAFOOD IMPORTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT UNITED STATES CONSUMERS AND ENSURE SAFETY OF THE FOOD SUPPLY.
Whereas, chloramphenicol, a potent antibiotic, can cause severe toxic effects in humans, including hypoaplastic anemia, which is usually irreversible and fatal; and
Whereas, because of these human health impacts, chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and similar veterinary drugs are not approved for use in foodproducing animals in the United States; and
Whereas, other countries have been found to use these drugs in the aquaculture of shrimp and other seafood, including Thailand, Vietnam, and China; and
Whereas, the nation imports over 400,000 metric tons of shrimp annually, and Thailand and Vietnam are the top two exporters of shrimp to the United States, and China is the fifth largest exporter of shrimp to the United States; and
Whereas, in 2002 the European Union and Canada severely restricted imports of shrimp and other food from these nations upon detection of chloramphenicol using testing protocols that can detect such substances to 0.3 parts per billion in certain shipments of seafood from China and other nations; and
Whereas, the United States Food and Drug Administration inspects only two percent of all seafood imports into the United States and utilizes a testing procedure that cannot detect the presence of chloramphenicol below one part per billion; and
Whereas, Food and Drug Administration import testing did not detect chloramphenicol in shrimp imported from these nations in 2002, independent testing performed by or for the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas detected chloramphenicol in samples of imported shrimp from China and other countries at levels harmful to human health; and
Whereas, imports of seafood from nations that utilize substances banned in the United States such as chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other veterinary drugs pose potential threats to United States consumers; and
Whereas, denial of entry to contaminated shrimp and other products to the European Union and Canada will likely redirect imports to the United States of contaminated products turned away from these countries. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly, by this resolution, expresses its concern about the presence of chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other veterinary drugs in imported shrimp and its potential impact on the safety of the food, and calls for immediate and focused actions by the federal government to improve enforcement of food import restrictions of seafood imports containing chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and other banned veterinary drugs in order to protect United States consumers and ensure safety of the food supply.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Food and Drug Administration.
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