CHINA: China moves to tighten food safety laws

By just-food.com | 31 October 2007

China has brought in new legislation to try and improve standards in food production, according to reports.

The law is a bid to stem growing international concern after a wave of food health scandals in the country.

The legislation will reportedly standardise food production and tackle illegal activity among the nation's food producers.

The Chinese government has been busy trying to bring its food industry to book with over 770 arrests 600 criminal investigations opened in a crackdown on unsafe food over the last two months.

"I think enacting this law will effectively improve China's food safety, ensure food safety and ensure the health of every consumer," Li Changjiang, head of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said, according to the International Herald Tribune.

The legislation will also calm the World Health Organisation, which had called on China to tighten its regulations.

According to the BBC, WHO chief Margaret Chan backed the move but said it would take time for confidence in among consumers throughout the world to be restored.

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