China says its authorities are gearing up for the establishment of a nationwide food safety emergency response mechanism. Health officials say they are working to introduce standardized food safety criteria at an early date. Tu Yun reports.
Reporter:
China has just put in place a new law to regulate food safety issues. (www.hXen.com)
It came after the country experienced a series of food safety incidents, particularly the toxic milk powder crisis. It had largely dented consumer confidence in the domestic dairy industry, causing heavy losses to Chinese milk product producers.
The new law stipulates more stringent governance of food safety issues. But officials say it's just the first step toward building a better food safety environment. Vice Health Minister, Chen Xiaohong, explains.
"We've had our lessons from the Sanlu toxic milk powder incident. We'll further refine related mechanisms concerning major food safety incidents and revise the national food safety contingency plan."
Chen Xiaohong adds authorities will try to establish an emergency response mechanism as early as possible. The system will specify such arrangements as departments coordination, information revelation, and aftermath disposal.
Moreover, China will also work to standardize its food safety criteria.
Li Yuan is a senior official from the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress.
"Only by introducing uniform criteria can we ensure enterprises and supervisors have a standard to follow in production and supervision."
Currently, food safety standards differ in China in varied provinces, regions and sectors.
The official notes authorities are also studying international practices, trying to align the domestic criteria with international standards.
The country is also planning to set up a national standards revision committee and risk evaluation committee to help with food safety issues.
