July 28, 2006

China seized 3,500 tonnes of illegally imported meat in first half of year

China seized 3,514 tonnes of illegally imported meat products in the first half of this year, said the country's food safety organisation on Thursday ( Jul 28) at a press conference.

A press release of the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (SAQSIQ) said the administration has established a long-term strategy to crack down on illegally imported food.

26 registered foreign meat producers have been suspended due to quality or safety problems in the first 6 months of the year, while 169 foreign companies have been permitted to export meat to China

The administration also carried out quality surveillance programmes for 29 categories of imported products, including imported rice, meat products, plant oil, casings, industrial food and cosmetics.

By the end of June this year, 370 kinds of food in 29 categories defined by national standards have been included into the production license and market access system, accounting for 70 percent of all the food varieties.

65,000 production licenses for food have been issued

The administration has also carried out overall survey of food additive producers and explored the possibility of setting up a registration system for these products.