China's new food standard system to be built next year

It is learned from the State Standard Commission that the situation of slow formulation, low general level and poor market usability existing in China's standardization work is being changed.

With regard to the revision involving food security standard, besides making an all-round clean up of the existing state standard, trades standard and local standard for food, the State Standard Commission will, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and other departments, jointly formulate, accelerate and promote implementation of the "National Food Standard 2004-2005 Development Plan".

After fulfillment of the plan, the proportion of international standard used in the main indexes of China's food standard will increase from the present 20 percent to 55 percent.

Statistics show that from April 2004 to the end of September this year, China carried out all-round, thorough clean up of existing effective 21,575 items of state standard and 8,511 items of planned projects in the process of formulation. Of the 21,575 items of state standard, 2,513 items were annulled, accounting for 11.6 percent; of the 8,511 items of planned projects in the process of formulation, 3,446 items were terminated and cancelled, making up 40.5 percent.

At the same time, the State Standard Commission also checked up on the existing effective 3,042 items of state mandatory standards, of which 1,034 items continued to be effective, constituting 34.0 percent; 1,586 items continued to be used but were urgently needed to be revised, comprising 52.1 percent; 422 items were abolished state mandatory standards, representing 13.9 percent.

Standards involving food security become the focus of the present cleaning-up work. It is reported that in the past decade about 150 collective food poisoning accidents caused by above-quota residual pesticide in vegetables and the use of industrial salt are reported every year on average.

By the end of 2003, the general level of China's standard for 3,400 items of food was low; cross and contradiction existed between some standards; there was a shortage of important standards; pre-stage research on standards was weak and the state of implementation was poor; even mandatory standards could not be effectively carried out.

To ensure food safety from the source, after the State Council "Decision on Further Strengthening Food Security Work" was released last year, the State Standard Commission, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Health, the Administration of Quality Inspection, Supervision and Quarantine and the State Food and Drug Supervision and Administration, formed a leading group for the establishment of a food security standard system and set up an office to jointly push for the implementation of the "National Food Standard 2004-2005 Development Plan".

Presently China has issued plans for the formulation and revision of state standards for 115 items of food, along with the fulfillment of various plans, a relatively perfect new food standard system will be set up next year.

By People's Daily Online