June 11, 2007

Traceable beef products will soon be available in Shanghai

Citizens in China's Shanghai will soon have access to beef products which safety for consumption will be more assured, all thanks to a new beef traceability system.

Under the system, to be set up by Heilongjiang's Nongken Beidahuang Cattle Industry Co. Ltd, in collaboration with a local retailer, all beef cattle will first be tagged with a serialized number before it is added to the company's stock.

Information on each individual cattle will be stored in central database, thus ensuring traceability in every aspect of production, from the feeding to the slaughter process.

At the point of sales, the retailer will have access to all the information on such beef products. Each beef cut or beef product will be labelled with information on the source and the time of production.

With this system, which is an answer to recent calls for more stringent food safety standards, Shanghai's consumers will be able to make better, and more informed choices.

RMB1=US$0.1305 (June 11)