This bill aims to significantly strengthen the safety regulations for seafood imported into the United States by amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It establishes a requirement that no seafood can be imported from a foreign country unless the Secretary certifies that the country's program uses reliable analytical methods to ensure compliance with U.S. standards for seafood manufacturing, processing, and holding. Furthermore, it mandates annual inspections of all foreign facilities that export seafood to the U.S. to verify their adherence to these standards.

The legislation introduces rigorous mandatory testing protocols, requiring the Secretary to inspect and test at least 20 percent of all imported seafood annually, with the first 15 shipments from new exporters subject to 100 percent inspection. Shipments that fail inspection face escalating consequences, including increased testing for subsequent shipments, a one-year import ban for exporters with multiple failures, and a complete refusal of entry for all seafood from countries exhibiting a pattern of non-compliance. Exporters will also be subject to fees to fund these enhanced inspection services.

Failed shipments will be detained or destroyed, unless they meet specific criteria for re-export, and must be clearly labeled "UNITED STATES: REFUSED ENTRY." The bill also restricts seafood imports to only those U.S. ports of entry certified by the Secretary as having personnel trained for seafood testing and inspection, with provisions to train staff at existing ports. Finally, it establishes civil penalties for knowingly making false statements or misbranding imported seafood and allows for the creation of a cooperative program with states to conduct seafood inspections, providing training and grants to support these efforts.