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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 issued a draft Environmental Assessment that could open the door for transgenic salmon to be sold in the United States for direct human consumption as food. This would be the first genetically engineered animal to enter the market, a precedent-setting action that could lead to adoption of genetic engineering in other animals. The FDA is well suited to evaluate food safety concerns but less well equipped to address complex social and environmental issues associated with the introduction of what is essentially an exotic species into aquatic environments. The FDA was given responsibility for regulating genetically engineered animals through a Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology established in 1986 and updated in 1992. Policy recommendations include revamping of this framework and the conduct of a full Environmental Impact Statement before issuing a permit for this transgenic fish. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary: We use global value chain (GVC) theory to understand governance of Vietnam’s shrimp farming industry. We describe this GVC as buyer-driven with important food safety standards imposed by governments of importing countries and new certification systems promoted by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Governance relations are clear between governments in importing countries and Vietnam, and between importers and NGOs. Governance relations become more fragmented further down the chain where large numbers of small-scale producers and traders operate. This fragmentation may adversely affect access to the most lucrative markets and have the unanticipated effect of marginalizing small-scale farmers and traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many developing countries face challenges in managing food safety risks associated with consumption of animal-source foods. Efforts to address these challenges increasingly recognize the role of certification in agri-food systems governance. Understanding consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for food safety certification is fundamental to determining the appropriate design and implementation of programs to reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses in developing countries. To address this need, we implemented a framed field experiment with consumers of eight farm-raised African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) products varying in certification status (safety certified versus uncertified) and product forms (live versus smoked) to examine their WTP for food safety certification in Nigeria. We applied a mixed-effects model to account for the hierarchical structure of the data with one participant entering multiple bids, and estimated a model with participant fixed effects as a robustness check. We found that consumers were willing to pay between 3.1% and 18.8% more for fish certified as safe compared to uncertified fish. Furthermore, there was an asymmetry in food safety certification valuation, with consumers paying significant premiums for high-value larger-sized certified live and smoked catfish, but not smaller-sized certified live and smoked catfish. The results are robust to a specification in which consumer fixed effects are included. Our findings suggest there exists consumer demand for certification programs to upgrade the food safety standards of higher-value fish products in Nigeria's domestic markets. Lower-value fish products typically consumed by lower-income consumers show less potential for certification. Alternative safety regulation is needed to ensure safety practices for low-end fish products. • A framed field experiment conducted to assess consumers' willingness to pay for aquaculture food safety certification. • Consumers in Nigeria are willing to pay a price premium in the range of 3.1%–18.8% for safe certified farm-raised catfish. • Consumers pay significant premiums for high-value larger-sized certified live and smoked catfish. • There exists consumer demand for safety certification programs for higher-value fish products. • Alternative safety regulation is needed to ensure safety practices for low-end fish products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]