介绍:
Anchor:
Chinese lawmakers have started revising China's food safety law, pledging tougher rules for safety, supervision, and sanctions.
This is the first revision to the law since it was enacted in 2009.
CRI's Tu Yun has more.
Reporter:
The draft revision to the food safety law is expected to be the strictest ever regulation on food safety.
Zhang Yong, Director of the China Food and Drug Administration, says the country will impose the harshest penalties on offenders and supervisors.
"The law will set up the strictest legal liability system. For offenders who add poisonous and deleterious substances in the food, the authorities can remove their licenses and impose fines up to 30 times of the value of their products. For officials who are dismissed for issuing fake evaluation reports, they could be banned from food safety supervision posts for life."
Under the current law, offenders can face fines up to 10 times of the value of their products.
Meanwhile, the amendment also singles out food and drug administrations as the sole supervision body for food production, transportation, and catering.
Zhu Yi, an associate professor from China Agricultural University, says the change will provide legal basis for more effective supervision.
"Previously, if a tomato is sold on the vegetable market, it falls under the jurisdiction of the agricultural department. When it is sold in the supermarket, it is under the industry and commerce department. When the tomato is processed into tomato sauce, it falls under the supervision of the quality inspection department. When it is served in the restaurant, the food and drug administration will be responsible for supervision. Now, under the amendment, the food and drug administration will be responsible for all processes. It can help to plug loopholes in the supervision system. "
Apart from specifying the supervision body, the revision makes food manufacturers the primary sector responsible for food safety when it comes to establishing liability for a problem.
The amendment also includes regulations on food products sold over the internet.
The current food safety law was put into effect sine 2009 after melamine was found in infant formula.
The draft revision has been submitted to the bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres, which runs through this Friday.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.
