(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-17 21:41

Food quality given priority

China uncovered 12,292 tons of illegally imported meat in 2006 and the first half of 2007, according to the white paper.

Exploration and practice over the years have enabled China to set up a complete framework of food quality and safety supervisory system and guarantee measures to ensure the safety of imported food, said the white paper.

In 2006, Chinese entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities altogether found 2,458 batches of foodstuffs not meeting the standards at ports of entry.

In the first half of this year, 896 batches were found, which were returned, destroyed or used in other ways according to law. Thus is the safety of food imported for the Chinese market assured.

The complete framework and guarantee measures include four parts:

Scientific risk management system. Chinese government adopts an inspection and quarantine entry system based on risk management for high-risk imported food. If epidemic animal or plant diseases or severe food safety problems occur in the exporting country, China shall take timely risk management measures, including suspending food imports from that country.

Strict inspection and quarantine system. When imported food arrives at the port of entry, the entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities carry out inspection and quarantine in accordance with law, and approve the foodstuffs to be imported only if they meet the required standards.

The other two parts are complete quality and safety supervisory system and strict system against illegal import.

The entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities pay special attention to higher-risk food and problematic foodstuffs as found in the inspection and quarantine at the ports of entry.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the General Administration of Customs have set up a cooperation mechanism to jointly fight illegal food imports.

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