China is working on a further revision of its draft food safety law in response to the melamine contamination scandal.
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Proposed changes reported on the website of the National People’s Congress yesterday (23 October) include the abolishing of a system that exempted leading brands from inspection. Sanlu, the dairy at the centre of the melamine scandal, had avoided inspections under this rule.
Legislators also want greater supervision across the food chain, particularly of raw materials, and clearer responsibility among government agencies, especially at the local level, to report food safety incidents.
The large number of agencies involved in food safety oversight has led to breakdown of communication in China, the World Health Organisation has said.
This is the third review of China’s draft food safety law, which was approved in principle last October. Though Chinese laws are typically approved after three reviews, this one looks set for further discussion, demonstrating the importance attached to the legislation, said the People’s Daily, the Communist party mouthpiece.
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