China is to issue a uniform standard to re-evaluate food safety labs across the country.

Officials say this project will enable the establishment of a national network of food safety monitors.

Food safety labs are in charge of testing the quality of food that is to be sold in the market.

The quality tests include the testing of raw materials, processing and packaging quality.

Wei Hao is the general secretary with the China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories.

"The accreditation of labs is an objective evaluation of the labs' capability and quality management based on international standards. In China, there are over a thousand food safety quality testing labs. The accuracy of the outcomes from these labs affect the life of Chinese people."

At present, problems in the food safety labs include big differences in technology and a different understanding of testing methods.

(CRI March 30, 2005)