In mid-March the
Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) asked for advice from the public in response
to the draft of the 2013 National Food Safety Standard, according to CCM’s monthly report, Dairy Products China News 1303.
The draft is
mainly a revision of some food safety national standards, including food
products, detection methods, food additives, nutriment supplements, nutrition
& special diet foods and requirements for production and operation. It has
also been suggested that a General Standard of Nutrition Supplement for
Pregnant, Post-Natal and Breastfeeding Women should be set up.
In view of the
significance of food safety, this is the 2nd time that the public’s views have
been collected for the draft. By the end of January, the China National Centre
for Food Safety Risk Assessment (responsible for the risk assessment,
monitoring,early warning and communication of national food safety, and food
safety standards) had received 1,288 suggestions on the topic, leading it to
draw up a draft on this basis.
The draft is also
a response to a succession of food safety incidents. Mainly because of the
quality scandal which hit Mengniu, the draft has an added Aflatoxin detection
method and a quality standard for raw milk. The arguably low
standard of raw milk has been widely considered
as key to most of the quality scandals hitting the dairy sector, with different
parties quarrelling about what standard should be applied, pushing the
government to address the issue.
Alongside the
draft, a number of administrative measures have been taken to prevent food
quality accidents:
• The MOH has
strengthened the supervision of food products through national surveillance. In
late January, it indicated that the focus of 2013’s work will be upon
addressing issues in several key areas, notably grain, vegetables, meat, dairy
products, infant foods and illegal additives.
Infant foods, formula and accessories are of special concern. 50%+ of China’s
county level administrative regions should monitor for food contaminants and
other harmful factors, according to the MOH
• In early March,
Gansu Province detailed its food safety work in 2013. Dairy products, edible
oil, liquor, meat, food additive and etc. are listed to be important aspects
and supervisors at all levels have to attend a total of over 40 hours’ training
about food safety
• In mid
February, the Department of Health of Guangdong Province solicited the views of
consumers in respect of a range of regional food safety standard revisions,
citing its goals as being to encourage progress in food safety technology,
independent innovation and industry development
• Sichuan
Province organised the “One Hundred Days Action”around the theme “2013 food
safety”. The programme divides into 4 stages, from 20 February to 31 July,
emphasising relevant departments’ responsibility in food safety
During the
sessions of the NPC & CPPCC (the National People’s Congress and the Chinese
Political Consultative Conference), food safety was a topic frequently
discussed. Infant formula attracted the most attention, especially after the
establishment of Hong Kong’s regulatory limits on purchases of
infant formula products. Mr. Zhou, director of the State of
Administration for Industry & Commerce of China, revealed that it will
release specific rules to reinforce the management of infant formula products,
which would cover the whole production chain, although no details about the
specific rules have been forthcoming to date.
Although domestic
dairy products have gradually regained some consumers’ confidence, the
perceptions amongst the public remain a major obstacle. The General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China
(AQSIQ) publishes data on qualification rates of domestic dairy products
checked. It states that 99% of domestic dairy products are passing when checked
nowadays, a rate higher than for imported dairy products. Mr. Yang, the deputy
director of AQSIQ, announced that 0.26% of domestic dairy products failed when
checked during 2011 and 2012, compared with a failure rate of 0.76% for
imported dairy products in 2012; in the case of domestic infant formula the
failure rate was 0.77% in 2012, 0.37% lower than for imported infant formula.
Clearly besides
the various governmental actions, food companies are keen to play key roles in
food safety, as demonstrating high levels of quality will be critical to their
brand awareness an brand reputations. A good example of this was seen on World
Consumer Rights Day (15 March), when Mengniu organised interactive activities
nationwide to raise public awareness of consumer rights protection, in the
process positioning its products as offering high quality and safety.
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Want Want China
Prospers with Dairy
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Adjustment at Black Cow
Modern Dairy
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By-health’s
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Introduces Premium Infant Formula
Dairy Products China News, a monthly publication issued by
CCM on 30th or 31st, offers you the latest information on
new market dynamics, company development, new products, technology, packaging
and raw material supply, etc. It also focuses on the government’s direction and
polices, helping you get the whole picture of the industry.
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