China Issues Draft Law for Implementing Food Safety Law      

On April 23rd, 2009 the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council of China (LAOSC) went public a draft law on the regulation of the implementation of the Food Safety Law to solicit public opinions. The regulation will be brought into effect on June 1st, 2009, the same effective date as the Food Safety Law. Citizens can send their opinions to LAOSC through mails or correspondences before May 4th, 2009.
   The proposed regulation emphasizes that food production enterprises shoulder the primary responsibility for food safety, and that they shall rigorously control the entire production process. Food additives exported into China should have Chinese label and Chinese instruction booklet that conforms to relative legal rule of China or they will not be allowed to be exported to China.
   China starts to enhance monitoring and supervision on food safety after a series of food scandals likes the melamine-contamination casualty. Nine government agencies including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued a notice on December 15th, 2008 deciding to kick-month nationwide food safety campaign focusing on clamping down on illegal use of non-edible raw materials and food additives trades. (CCR2009 No.1)
    On February 28th, 2009 China approved Food Safety Law for strengthening control on food safety management.
    The Food Safety Law set a ban in food production and only those proved to be safe and necessary in food production are allowed to be listed as food additives.
    Edible farm products producers are required to abide by food safety standards when using pesticide, fertilizer, growth regulators, veterinary drugs, feedstuff and feed additives, according to the Food Safety Law.