March 12, 2008

Ministry of Health to oversee China's food, drug safety

China's Ministry of Health (MOH) will take over the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in ensuring food and drug safety across the country.

This has been based on a government restructuring draft bill presented to the National People's Congress (NPC) stated on Tuesday.

With the proposed reshuffle, the MOH will oversee the overall coordination on China's food safety and organizing investigations if and when a food crisis occurs, the bill stated.

The SFDA, which currently reports directly to the State Council just like the MOH, will no longer be the country's top food and drug agency.

The bill stated that with the reshuffle, the supervision of food and drug safety will be intensified.

Zhou Zhiren, a professor with the school of government at Peking University, said it will take time for the move to have effect though.

Zhou pointed that at present, there are several departments that handle different links on food safety measures.

For MOH to expand its responsibility, it needs additional food safety inspection staff, Zhou explained.

The MOH will also take over the responsibilities of the SFDA to set drug standards and devise a national basic medicine system to facilitate ongoing medical reform.

Placing the SFDA under MOH will help the management of overall medical services and drug issue administration, the bill stated.