China is not the primary target of a US watchdog set up on
Wednesday to scrutinize the quality of imports, the White House has
said.
US President George W. Bush announced the formation of a
Cabinet-level panel to recommend steps to better guarantee the
safety of food and other products imported into the US.
The White House said the effort was not targeted mainly at
China, the source of a variety of imports that has put Beijing and
Washington at loggerheads over food quality.
"This is not a slap at China," White House spokesman Tony Snow said
earlier when asked if he thought China would be offended by Bush's
action.
"This is in fact a normal piece of business. We get food imports
from 150 countries around the world. It's important to monitor them
all."
The new panel will submit its recommendations to the president
in 60 days and is headed by Health and Human Services Secretary
Michael Leavitt.
Bush said the administration will work with countries that
export food products to the US, as well as firms that import
them.
The Chinese government has so far not commented on the
development. But the Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said that
China has been addressing the food safety issue seriously and is
willing to work with other countries to redress any grievances.
Analysts say food safety is a common challenge facing the
international community, and it must tackle it through better
regulation. They suggest every country treat the imports fairly
regardless of their origin.
Director of Fudan University's American Studies Shen Dingli
called the US decision a necessity for ensuring consumer safety.
Every government has the responsibility of devising and improving
procedures and practices to ensure the safety of consumer
products.
Shen said the higher benchmark for food products to be exported
to the US will compel other countries to attach greater importance
to food safety.
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine (AQSIQ) figures show that over the past two years, 99
percent of food exports to the US met safety standards.
China announced on Wednesday that Beijing and Washington will
meet at the end of the month to discuss a US ban on Chinese seafood
exports and the setting up of a cooperation mechanism on food
safety.
European Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva
will visit China next week for food safety talks with officials,
including those from AQSIQ and the State Administration of Industry
and Commerce.
(China Daily via agencies July 20, 2007)
