9 September 2008

China Considering Legislative Proposal on Safety of Imported/Exported Food

This article is excerpted from the 9 September 2008 edition of “WorldTrade Interactive”.

China’s National People’s Congress is reviewing a legislative proposal on food safety and could approve it by the end of the year. ...

• For new food additives and food-related products, as well as food products for which there are no national or international standards, treaties or agreements, the importer of record would have to apply for a food safety evaluation and the relevant government agency would make a decision within 60 days from the date it accepts the application.

• Exporters of food products and their agents would be required to register with China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and exports of food products would be subject to AQSIQ inspection and export permit.

• Manufacturers of food products to be sold in China would also have to register with AQSIQ.

• Packaged food products to be introduced into China would be required to have a label that includes, in Chinese, the origin of the product and the name, address and contact information of the distributor in China.

• Importers of food products would have to maintain importation and sales records for at least two years.

• Any food product found to be unsafe would have to be recalled immediately....