The Food Safety Law must be taken as the criterion, severe measures must be taken to address disorder, and penalties must be increased to effectively change the problem of low costs for violations, so that lawbreakers pay a high price and a real deterrent effect is achieved.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
For major food safety incidents, no matter which region they occur in or which department is involved, accountability must be enforced. — Li Keqiang文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
According to Xinhua News Agency, yesterday, Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, and director of the State Council Food Safety Commission, attended the national teleconference on the special campaign to severely crack down on illegal addition and abuse of food additives and delivered a speech. He stressed that prominent problems affecting food safety must be effectively resolved.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Li Keqiang said that there is no trivial matter in food issues, and ensuring safety is a major matter. This is directly related to the people's health and safety of life, and to the overall situation of economic and social development. Some prominent food safety incidents that have recently occurred and been investigated are related to the abuse or illegal use of additives in food production and operation, and the public is highly concerned about this. The rectification of illegal food addition must be taken as an important entry point for ensuring food safety, with tracing to the source and strengthened whole-process management.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Li Keqiang stressed that illegal food addition is highly harmful, and once a problem occurs, it has a broad social impact and can easily trigger chain reactions, so it must be taken with the utmost seriousness. The Food Safety Law must be taken as the criterion, severe measures must be taken to address disorder, and penalties must be increased to effectively change the problem of low costs for violations, so that lawbreakers pay a high price and a real deterrent effect is achieved. Once illegal addition is discovered, it must be investigated and handled quickly, problematic products must be sealed off at the first opportunity, production and business suspension must be ordered, and severe economic penalties must be imposed. For intentional addition, licenses must be revoked without exception, equipment must be confiscated, and enterprise leaders must no longer engage in the relevant food industry.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
■ Release文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
General Standards for Food Additives to Be Issued Within the Year文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Gutter oil, clenbuterol, dyed steamed buns, beef extract... Recently, food safety problems have occurred frequently, arousing high concern from all sides. Yesterday, the General Office of the State Council issued the Notice on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Food Addition and Effectively Strengthening Supervision of Food Additives (hereinafter referred to as the Notice), which will severely crack down on multiple illegal acts endangering food safety, including illegal addition, and requires the Ministry of Health to formulate national standards for new varieties of food additives.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
>> Sales文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Clean Up and Eliminate Hidden Dens Storing Illegal Additives文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
The Notice requires that industry and commerce departments supervise food additive sellers in establishing and strictly implementing systems for incoming goods inspection and sales ledgers, and severely investigate and handle unlicensed operation and the illegal sale of counterfeit and inferior food additives.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
In addition, the Notice requires close monitoring and resolute crackdown on the sale of illegal food additives through the Internet and other means. For key areas such as rural areas, urban-rural fringe areas, and county fringe areas, and key locations such as factory buildings, workshops, warehouses rented out by enterprises, as well as temporary urban buildings and rented private houses, all localities must organize regular investigations, promptly discover and thoroughly eliminate “hidden dens” that illegally manufacture and store illegal additives, and resolutely destroy underground sales channels.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
>> Use文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Strictly Supervise Units Using Additives Such as Hot Pot Restaurants文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
While cracking down on illegal addition, the Notice requires strengthening supervision over the use of food additives.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
The Notice requires the Ministry of Health and the State Food and Drug Administration to formulate as soon as possible regulations on the use of food additives in the catering service link, clarify the varieties of food additives permitted for use, guide catering service units in standardizing the use of food additives, and prohibit false publicity or deception of consumers.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
In addition, the State Food and Drug Administration must focus on strengthening supervision over the use of food additives by catering units that provide services such as hot pot, self-made beverages, and self-made seasonings.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
>> Supervision文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Set Up Special Funds to Reward Whistleblowers文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Given that public opinion is a necessary means of supervision, the Notice further requires strengthening social oversight. It clearly proposes that local governments at all levels establish and improve a food safety reward reporting system, set up special reward funds, improve working mechanisms, designate specialized departments to take responsibility, effectively implement rewards for whistleblowers, protect the lawful rights and interests of whistleblowers, and encourage internal personnel of production and business units to report.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
At the same time, the Notice proposes that, in light of local realities, measures for the management of food safety information officers and auxiliary defense officers be formulated, and the building of food safety information officer and auxiliary defense officer teams be strengthened.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Regarding the media, which plays an important role in public opinion supervision, the Notice states that active support should be given to news media in public opinion supervision, problems disclosed by the media should be seriously investigated, social concerns should be promptly responded to, and investigated and handled food safety cases should be made public. At the same time, false news must be cracked down on, and those who create false news causing social panic must be seriously held accountable.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
According to the requirements of the Notice, local governments at or above the county level shall uniformly take charge of and lead the work of cracking down on illegal addition and abuse of food additives within their administrative regions, take it as a priority in food safety work, with principal leaders personally overseeing it and responsible leaders directly in charge. In addition, supervisory departments must increase accountability efforts and pursue responsibility in accordance with law and discipline for dereliction of duty and malfeasance.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
>> Standards文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Food Additive Standards to Be Issued文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
There will be a timetable for the issuance of food additive standards. The Notice requires the Ministry of Health to formulate national standards for new varieties of food additives, and by the end of 2011, formulate and publish general safety standards for compound food additives and labeling standards for food additives.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
For food additives that currently have no national standards, relevant enterprises or industry organizations may, in accordance with relevant provisions, apply to designate product standards by referring to international organizations or relevant national standards, and the Ministry of Health, together with relevant departments, must accelerate the designation of food additive standards. The Ministry of Health and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine must formulate and issue relevant measures as soon as possible to do a good job in the connection between production licensing and supervision before the completion of standard designation.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
>> Self-discipline文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Establish Food Enterprise Safety Credit Files Within the Year文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
In the process of food safety supervision, food enterprises play a crucial role. The Notice requires strengthening enterprise integrity and self-discipline, and proposes that by the end of 2011, all regulatory departments establish food safety credit files for all food producers and operators according to their systems.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
At the same time, industry organizations such as food and food additives must truly shoulder the responsibility of industry self-discipline, actively organize enterprises to carry out self-inspection, self-correction, and internal supervision, strengthen industry supervision and training, promptly discover problems existing in the industry, and those who fail to promptly discover and report them must be criticized in a notice. Our reporter Sun Qian文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
■ Interpretation文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Use of Additives in the Catering Industry Has Been Made Stricter文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
According to Associate Professor Zhu Yi of the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, the main problems currently existing in the real-world use of food additives are treating illegal additives as food additives and using food additives beyond limits and beyond scope. She said that the document on food additives issued this time by the General Office of the State Council focuses on three aspects.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
First, it makes the regulations on the use of food additives in the catering service link stricter, whereas previously regulations on the use of additives in the catering industry were lacking. The "one-drop fragrance" and beef extract that have recently been heavily reported by the media are prominent examples. In fact, although enterprises large and small in China currently produce more than a thousand kinds of flavorings, there are only more than 40 national standards, and the lack of relevant standards has led to blind spots in supervision. This document also focuses on solving this problem.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Second, it pays attention to the issue of labeling. The many varieties of food additives on the market mostly indicate dosage in the packaging instructions, but their chemical components are rarely all listed. The issue of intellectual property protection involved here may be something relevant departments have not noticed.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Third, it promises to formulate and publish general safety standards for compound food additives by the end of 2011. So-called compound food additives are composite substances made by combining several food additives according to a certain processing technology and then added to food to meet people's requirements for food quality, taste improvement, or processed food. In this link, greater attention needs to be paid to the safety and stability of additives after compounding, and reasonable hygiene standards must be formulated to avoid food safety accidents.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Our reporter Wang Weiwei文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
■ Response文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Ministry of Health Denies That Food Safety Standards Are Looser Than Abroad文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Recently, some media reported that “China's food safety standards differ internally and externally, and are looser than those abroad.” Yesterday, the Ministry of Health issued an announcement stating that food standards in countries around the world do indeed differ, that China's standards are basically consistent with international standards, and that enterprises are encouraged to formulate enterprise standards stricter than national standards according to the needs of international competition.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Data show that for many years the pass rate of China's food exports has remained above 99.8%, while the pass rate of domestically sold food has been above 90%. Although the gap is only nine percentage points, it exposes the awkwardness of “internal and external differences” in food safety standards.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
The Ministry of Health stated that all countries formulate specific food safety standards based on the results of food safety risk assessments, differences in food consumption and dietary structure, and the actual situation of production and operation. Differences in standards objectively exist and have scientific basis. Chinese enterprises may, according to market competition needs or to help establish their corporate image, formulate enterprise standards and management systems stricter than national standards, and the state encourages enterprises in this regard. Differences between different countries and between national standards and enterprise standards are objective circumstances and will exist for a long time.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Previously, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that heavy metals such as arsenic and lead contained in Nestle infant complementary foods did not exceed Chinese standards. “Whether China's food safety standards are looser than foreign standards” has always been one of consumers' confusions about food safety.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
In response, the Ministry of Health stated that after joining the WTO, China's food safety standard work has gradually aligned with international practices. Taking standards for limits of contaminants in food as an example, the conformity rate of China's standards with the items and index values of the Codex Alimentarius standards exceeds 70%. It is worth noting that comparisons of standards among different countries should be comprehensive and objective, and should not be based only on individual standards or individual indicators. For example, substances such as ractopamine and benzoyl peroxide that are permitted abroad are prohibited varieties in China. Overall, China is gradually cleaning up and improving a unified food safety standard system in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Law, and it basically conforms to or approaches Codex Alimentarius standards.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Our reporter Wang Weiwei文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
■ Beijing Connection文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Guo Jinlong: Use Food Work to Measure the Government's Work Level文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Yesterday afternoon, this city held a special work meeting on cracking down on illegal food addition and abuse of food additives.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Guo Jinlong pointed out that all departments and all districts and counties must take strengthening food safety as an important task in improving people's livelihood and as an important symbol for measuring the government's work level. Guo Jinlong required that the special work of cracking down on illegal food addition and abuse of food additives be taken as a breakthrough and driving force, that scientific testing and whole-process supervision be adhered to, that comprehensive governance of urban-rural fringe areas be strengthened, and that administrative accountability efforts be increased.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/
Regarding the supervision of food additives in this city, Ji Wei, Director of the Food Division of the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce, introduced that at present, Beijing's industry and commerce authorities mainly control the abuse of food additives through sampling inspections. The Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce conducts regular and irregular sampling inspections of various foods. When it is found that merchants use additives in violation of regulations, they are required to remove the non-compliant food from shelves and report it to the quality supervision department. A reporter's investigation found that in the weekly list of removed food products published by the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce, substances such as sodium cyclamate, tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmine, and sodium saccharin have all been detected.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11308/