SUSHI Act

The SUSHI Act would require the U.S. government to develop a standardized, chemical-analysis-based method to identify the country of origin for seafood. Led jointly by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the NOAA Administrator, with input from Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard, the goal is to improve enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The bill aims to produce a practical, field-ready methodology (including a portable field kit) that can also test prepared seafood dishes (like sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and poke). It directs pilot studies on red snapper and tuna and, within two years of enactment, requires a report to Congress detailing the methodology, a plan to operationalize it, and explanations if any aspects prove impractical or if alternatives beyond chemical analysis are worth pursuing.