China To Build Internationally Compatible Food Safety System

China is working on a new system of food safety standards to be more compatible with international norms. "The Ministry of Health is now working with other government agencies to formulate a new system of food safety standards, as required by the country's new food safety law that went into effect June 1 this year," said Vice Minister of Health Chen Xiaohong.

Speaking at Food and Drug Safety Responsibility Forum, August 30, Chen said the system will integrate existing food safety standards, eliminate overlapping and contradiction, and establish standards in areas which had not been previously regulated. In addition, Chen emphasized transparency and public input, and noted that the system will honor WTO request to adhere as well to opinions of international associations and nations.

Efforts are also being increased to establish an efficient food safety coordination mechanism, improve the health emergency response system, and set up a food safety risk-monitoring and assessment system, and a database is under construction to facilitate the flow of information between different government agencies involved in food safety administration and supervision.

Read the full story at china.org