The State Council, China's Cabinet, yesterday approved in
principle a draft food safety law to raise standards and regulate
supervision.
World Health Organization Director-General
Margaret Chan (left) and Li Changjiang, head of China's
product-quality watchdog, address the media yesterday in Beijing.
The WHO chief praised China's moves to crack down on food-safety
problems as the country stepped up efforts in recent months to
clamp down on shoddy and dangerous goods.
"Food safety is vital to improving people's lives and health, so
legislation must match national efforts of safeguarding food
safety," said Premier Wen Jiabao.
The draft law was discussed at yesterday's executive meeting of
the State Council, which was presided over by Wen.
"The draft bill covers food production, processing, consumption
and regulation," the country's quality watchdog chief Li Changjiang
said while meeting the visiting World Health Organization
Director-General Margaret Chan.
Li said the draft would be submitted to the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress (NPC) for further review, but he
would not give details or a timetable.
An announcement on the central government's website said the law
mandates better release of information about food safety issues,
higher fines for errant firms and punishment of officials who act
irresponsibly; and guarantees the public's right to compensation
and to sue.
The announcement also said the law requires the establishment of
a food safety risk analysis and monitoring system, as well as
closer checks of food imports and exports.
"I believe that the promulgation of this law will effectively
improve China's food safety situation and ensure food safety and
people's health," said Li, minister of the General Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
Chan told Li that she was happy with the action China had taken
to raise standards. "I'm confident that the way forward will be
good for the world and for China. This is exactly what we are
looking to you for - strengthened efforts," she said.
The quality of Chinese goods has come under international
scrutiny following a spate of safety scares around the globe
involving Chinese products ranging from pet food to seafood and
toothpaste to toys.
The Chinese government said those were isolated problems but has
also taken a series of measures to tighten checks and punish
illegal activities.
Meanwhile, there has been a growing voice asking for the
revision of the Food Hygiene Law, which was adopted 12 years ago,
or the formulation of a food safety law to offer the current food
safety campaign legislative backing.
Chen Junshi, a senior researcher with the National Institute for
Nutrition and Food Safety who has been involved in the legislation,
said lawmakers had, after heated debate, reached consensus that a
new law would be better.
"It is clear that the food safety bill, if passed, will replace
the existing Food Hygiene Law," Chen told China Daily.
The NPC Standing Committee would not reveal when the draft law
would be tabled for the first review, but its legislative plan
released earlier this year has scheduled the reading of the
amendment to the Food Hygiene Law for late next month.
Experts said they welcome the new draft law but expressed
concern that the bill fails to touch on the restructuring of the
current food safety supervision mechanism.
Food safety is currently overseen by at least six major
government departments, resulting in overlapping responsibility and
law enforcement.
However, Chen said the reform of the current mechanism is
difficult because it might affect the interests of some government
agencies.
"The draft law doesn't change any of the existing supervision
system. It only stipulates that the State Council has the power to
change it in the future," he said.
"We expect the next government, to be in power next March, to
make some concrete changes in reforming the system."
(China Daily November 1, 2007)
