Guyana’s effort to resume catfish exports to the United States remains under review, US Ambassador Nicole Theriot has said, adding that she would seek a more detailed update from the embassy.
Asked about the restriction by reporters on the sidelines of the 27th Americas Regional Conference, Theriot said that, as far as she understood, the matter was still being reviewed. She remarked that she had been asked the same question since arriving in Guyana and promised to check for further information.
Theriot did not say what remained outstanding, when the review might end or whether the US had requested any further documents from Guyana.
Stabroek News reported in May 2025 that the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was examining additional documents submitted by Guyana in response to its questions. Theriot said at the time that the US agency would decide whether it needed further clarification or could lift the restriction.
The restriction on Guyana’s catfish exports has been in place since 2017. Stabroek News has reported that Guyana has made repeated submissions in its effort to meet US inspection and food-safety requirements. Theriot’s latest response indicates that exporters have yet to receive a decision allowing shipments to resume.
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