Trade partners are wary of food products from China, fueled by safety breaches involving toxins in products from pet food to toothpaste, which prompted wide recalls and government investigations.
Chinese police and health official check tainted meat which is suspected to have caused dozens of illnesses and at least one death, Image credit
China has been responding to the growing concerns about its food industry with a series of measures, including investigations to probe the use of melamine scrap and companies exporting toothpaste containing a lethal chemical.
In the latest step, Beijing said it would strengthen oversight of food products entering the capital. Beijing would also set up a system to trace back food and food products to their origins and will strictly monitor the use of fertilizer and pesticides.
Among the host of measures Washington is seeking are more transparent food regulations and permission to send U.S. audit teams to China. Currently, all vegetable protein imports from China are on “import alert”, which means they get immediate inspection.
Keeping in mind 2008 Olympic Games, when millions of athletes, tourists and journalists will descend on the city it is essential that the food there remains safe.
Source: Reuters
