July 11, 1997
NOTE TO: ORA Field Managers Director, Office of Public Affairs Director, Office of Legislative Affairs Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine FROM: Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition SUBJECT: Change in Dioxin Sampling and Testing Program for Catfish Following meetings held the week of July 7, 1997 with interested parties, FDA determined that its sampling and testing program outlined in the July 8, 1997 Note to Egg Producers and Catfish Farmers and Processors is inadequate for catfish. Therefore, FDA is suspending the sampling and testing program scheduled to begin on July 13, 1997 midnight. The Agency, along with other interested parties, is placing a high priority on developing and implementing an appropriate and public health-based sampling and testing program for catfish and other food fish. In consultation with EPA, USDA/FSIS, FDA will continue to use its enforcement discretion pertaining to catfish that have consumed contaminated feed.
Fred R. Shank, Ph.D.