Authorities to run spot checks on Chinese food products

China will strengthen quality control and regularly run spot checks on major food premises during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. Authorities vowed to step up efforts to ensure food safety for the imminent consumption hike.

Authorities will inspect all premises where food is handled, prepared, or stored. In particular, they will look at vegetable farms, slaughter houses, restaurants and tourists sites to ensure that the public is protected, and high standards are maintained. Holiday hot sales such as dairy and meat products, liquor, edible oil, fruits and snacks will fall under frequent checks.

"We will be targeting specifically meat and vegetable processing facilities and retailers. Efforts will be made to prevent the use of moldy, rotten or non-food materials, livestock that died of illness and abuse of additives. We will also run regular spot checks on agri- products before they enter the market. Those who fail to meet the standard will be given legal notice, face prosecution or even closure of business," said Ma Aiguo, director general of agriculture-food department, Chinese Agriculture Ministry.

Authorities will also keep a close watch on poultry farms and quarantine to prevent the spread of avian flu. Meanwhile China is also in the process of setting up its own food safety standards. A basic framework is expected in 2015.

"We spent the last year sorting out repetitive standards, and identifying the loopholes. We will refer to international standards and Chinese people's dietary structure to adjust the safety standards. We are expected to finish about half the work this year, and improve on it in the next year," said Su Zhi, director general of food safety standards department, National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The upcoming Spring Festival holiday will see a hike in food consumption. By monitoring the whole production and retail chain, authorities promised to ensure safe and quality food from farm to table.