Summary of H.R. 3706: SUSHI Act

Overview

The SUSHI Act (Sustainable Utilized Seafood Handling Improvements Act) is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 4, 2025. The main purpose of the bill is to establish new federal standards and requirements for the handling, processing, and distribution of seafood products in the United States.

Key Provisions

The bill would:

1. Implement Stricter Seafood Handling Standards: Require seafood processors, distributors, and retailers to adhere to enhanced food safety and quality control protocols when handling, storing, and transporting seafood products.

2. Create a Seafood Traceability Program: Establish a nationwide electronic traceability system to track the origin, processing, and distribution of all seafood sold in the United States.

3. Increase Inspection and Enforcement: Mandate more frequent federal inspections of seafood facilities and grant the FDA and USDA additional enforcement authority to penalize violations.

4. Fund Research and Development: Allocate $50 million per year in new funding for research into sustainable seafood harvesting, processing techniques, and supply chain innovations.

Affected Parties

The SUSHI Act would primarily impact:

• Commercial fishermen and seafood harvesters
• Seafood processors, distributors, and wholesalers
• Supermarkets, restaurants, and other seafood retailers
• Federal regulatory agencies like the FDA and USDA
• Consumers of seafood products in the United States

Timeline and Next Steps

The bill is currently in the subcommittee hearing stage, where members of Congress are gathering input from industry stakeholders and experts. If it advances, the bill would then proceed to a full committee markup and potential floor vote in the House of Representatives. If passed by the House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration.

Overall, the SUSHI Act aims to improve the safety, sustainability, and transparency of the U.S. seafood supply chain through new federal standards and oversight mechanisms.