¶ … imported food labeling and safety aspects in China.
Of late, China has become a key food import source in the U.S. Chinese food imports increased more than thrice in value from 2001 to 2008. A number of highly publicized food adulteration and contamination cases in China's local food supply as well as in its imported goods to America have led public concern to be directed towards safety of Chinese foods (Gale and Buzby, 2009). Partly inspired by the above concerns, an American Governmental Import Safety IWG (Interagency Working Group) published an import safety action plan, while the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) published its 2007 Food Protection Plan. In the year 2008, the FDA established its very first foreign office in Beijing, China.
The Agency's refusals of food shipments from China indicate the product mix imported: shellfish and fish, vegetable and fruit products constitute the majority of refusals. A majority of food imports from China undergo a certain degree of processing. FDA cites "filth," insufficient labeling, absence of appropriate manufacturer registrations, and unsafe additives as the most widespread issues, which are often introduced in the course of product handling and processing. A second commonplace issue -- that of possible residues of toxic veterinary drug in shrimp and fish cultivated at farms -- occurs at the level of the farm. A less frequently cited problem is that of harmful pathogens and pesticide residues in food shipments from China. Authorities in China attempt to control exported food safety by means of farm and exporter certification (Gale and Buzby, 2009). However, these certified exporters make up a minor percentage of the country's food industry. A majority of its 200 million food companies and farms are, technically, not a part of exported food supply chains. Nevertheless, keeping an eye on the broad array of food products and potential hazards at different points of the supply chain represents a challenge, both for U.S. and Chinese authorities. Food safety-related exchanges and consultations between U.S. and Chinese authorities are a key step towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of supervision and enforcement of American food safety requirements in China's food shipments to the U.S.
Examples on Why Food Labeling and Regulations Are Important
A number of news networks -- Australian Press, Xinhua and Associated Press -- reported the death of 11 individuals and sickness of some 120-140 more from contaminated vinegar. Tensions were fueled by the reason behind this mass poisoning: The victims -- the Overwhelmingly-Muslim Uighurs -- are an ethnic minority group residing in a tiny far-western Xinjiang village, whose goal to achieve political freedom from Beijing resulted in riots in the year 2009; these riots were crushed violently (McKenna, 2011). Nearly all members of the village (roughly 150 individuals in total), had congregated for iftar (i.e., breaking of the Ramadan fast).
The above case was the month's second vinegar-related scandal. A couple of weeks prior to the incident, an officer belonging to the organization responsible for overseeing Shanxi province's vinegar production stated that 95% of its popular "aged" vinegar was treated using industrial acid for reducing fermentation time, thereby turning out batches more quickly. These examples are only the most recent ones (McKenna, 2011). Preceding these cases are instances of "phosphorescent" meat; exploding watermelons; contaminated buns; bleach-infused mushrooms; rice containing heavy metal; forty tons in weight of carcinogen- and antibiotic- imbued bean sprouts; and highly doped pork, against which athletes in attendance at a worldwide sporting meeting held in Shanghai were warned.
Importance
No less than six Chinese government authorities have been delegated the task of enforcing the nation's food safety system. Its Food Safety Committee oversees and coordinates the above authorities' activities. On March 10, 2013, the Chinese State Council put forward a proposal for the restructuring of particular commissions and ministries, before the National People's Congress (NPC). The proposal was approved four days later. This restructuring endeavor will greatly affect the nation's food safety system, particularly, by its allotting of more control to State General Administration of Food and Drug (SGFDA) (Food Safety in China - From a Regulatory Perspective -- Norton Rose Fulbright). What the nation considered not even 4 years back as a central component of the resolution to its food safety issues is once again undergoing reform. This newest reorganization has, possibly, resulted from Chinese lawmakers' experimentation to find the right resolution -- this is not a new concept in the nation's legislative system, but is, rather, more likely to be an indication of a constant regulatory power struggle. This situation of flux within the nation's food safety system augments unpredictability in rules to be abided by and implemented by food companies. Extremely stringent sanctions hang over their heads.
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