Economy

China solicits opinions on food recall regulation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-24 13:12

BEIJING -- China's top quality watchdog Monday began soliciting public opinions regarding its latest revised regulation concerning food recalls, as persistent food safety scandals in recent years have resulted in widely-heard public grievances.

The revision was made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine based upon the food recall regulation issued in 2007.

Related readings:  Food safety drive targets supervision  China convicts 106 criminals for food safety violations  Police crack 1,000 severe food safety cases  Long-term food safety

The draft bans the reuse of recalled food products which undergo hazard-free treatment for food production again.

The revision also stipulates that quality control departments will document food recalls and set up food safety credit files for the involved companies.

According to the regulation, companies should immediately halt production of food that is found unsafe for human health. They must also report the recall to local quality control authorities within 3 days after the food products are found unsafe.

The companies should take measures to quickly inform manufacturers, sellers and consumers of unsafe products. Those food products already sold should also be recalled, and they must report the progress and number of recalled items to local watchdogs.

Additionally, the companies must report the results within 7 days after the recalls are completed, the regulation notes.

Those companies involved will be fined as much as 30,000 yuan ($4,600) if they fail to act quickly, the regulation says.