Hearing on Chinese Seafood: Safety and Trade Issues
Opening Statement of Commissioner Daniel Slane
April 24, 2008
New Orleans, LA
Good morning and welcome to our hearing. I am very pleased to be back in New Orleans. I am also gratified to see that the determination of its citizens is reflected in the progress that has been made in restoring the Crescent City to its place among the world’s great and distinctive cities.
First, I must thank the office of United States Senator Mary Landrieu for the advice and logistical support provided our Commission. We are here in the Pan American building through the aid and wise counsel of the Senator’s staff. We appreciate that very much.
Before I introduce the first panel, I’d like to note how seriously we take the matter of compliance with health and safety regulations of the various federal agencies in charge of enforcement, testing, certification, and inspection of our imported food. We want to make sure that America’s health and safety laws and regulations are respected and that our regulatory agencies are supplied with sufficient authority and resources to protect consumers. Even now, Congress is debating how to meet the challenge of bringing our food safety system up to meet the challenge of globalization.
The Commission intends to participate in that debate and to bring back to Washington the lessons we have learned here. Certainly, we will benefit from seven panels of very knowledgeable witnesses, some of them quite expert in their fields. We will also welcome the comments of the public during out open microphone session beginning at 3:15 pm. Those wishing to speak are asked to register with the staff.
Finally, we welcome our witnesses and ask that each one speak not more that seven minutes to summarize the opening statements that many have already supplied. That will leave plenty of time for questions from the Commissioners to the witnesses. Their written statements will be made part of the Commission record and will be published on the Commission’s website, along with a transcript of this hearing and the eventual annual report, which we will deliver to Congress in November.