An article in the New York Times on June 28, 2014 (“US Catfish Program Could Stymie Pacific Trade Pact, 10 Nations Say”) describes the Agriculture Department’s catfish inspection program that is being protested by Vietnam with support from Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia. The inspection program was setup in response to the declining US catfish industry whose volumes have dropped 60% from its peak. In addition, the US government’s General Accounting Office calls catfish a “low risk food” with inspection not changing the safety of catfish. Should the inspection be considered as a ploy to protect the interests the US catfish industry or necessary to protect the US consumer from potential unsanitary conditions at suppliers ? Given the risk to TPP, should this lower risk inspection be withdrawn or is it worth the cost ? How should consumer demand for a secure food supply chain be reflected in the product – would certification by independent third party agencies or retailers be an alternative ?