US food industry is worrying that new rules designed to thwart bioterror attacks could disrupt normal food imports, US food industry representatives told a congressional panel on Friday.

US government will begin full enforcement of a requirement thatthose exporting food to the United States give American inspectorsadvance notice before shipments arrive. Products shipped without prior notice will be refused entry. The enforcement will start in mid-August.

John Cady, President and CEO of the National Food Processors Association, said that widespread confusion about the new rules creates the potential that legitimate food imports could be delayed or denied entry into the United States.

"We can't have all of the trucks of the world stopped on the border," he said.

US Congress passed the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 to enhance foodsecurity, including requiring domestic and foreign companies that make or handle food destined for US consumption to register with the federal government in advance.

Source: Xinhua