By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, DC – There will be no national ban on the sale of basa catfish imported from Vietnam. The Food and Drug Administration says there are measures already in place that will prevent contaminated products from being imported. The decision is a disappointment for southern catfish farmers, who say cheaper catfish imports are hurting the domestic catfish industry. Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks banned the sale of the Vietnamese fish until tests could be conducted for a prohibited antibiotic. The antibiotic was found in some shipments. It's commonly used to prevent the spread of disease in foreign fish farms, which are usually very crowded.