Exporters of food products that fail to meet safety standards of
destination countries face a fine of up to 20 times the value of
the consignment and can even be charged for committing a crime if
the top legislature approves a draft law.
Food product exporters who fail to go through entry-exit
quarantine inspections face similar punishments, according to the
draft law under the first review at the ongoing session of the
National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.
If approved, the draft law will spell out clear penalties for
illegal food exporters for the first time.
The two existing laws on food safety, the Food Hygiene Law and
the Law on Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, say nothing
about penalties. They only authorize the State Council to issue
relevant regulations.
The draft food safety law seeks to impose tighter checks on food
exports, too, and makes it mandatory for food exporters and supply
farms to register with the General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
The AQSIQ has to prepare a blacklist of violators and recommend
exporters with good records, and make both the lists public, the
draft says.
The Law on Agricultural Product Quality and Safety says nothing
about exports, and the Food Hygiene Law only stipulates that food
products to be exported have to pass the examinations of the
country's entry-exit inspection and quarantine agencies.
State Council Legislative Affairs Office head Cao Kangtai said
the stipulations and penalties in the draft law are to ensure
better quality of exported food.
"They will ensure that China-made products establish a good
image in the international market," he said.
The quality of Chinese products, especially food, has been in
the news in recent months.
Cao conceded food safety incidents have been reported from time
to time, hurting the made-in-China label.
These reports have elicited response from the highest offices,
with Premier Wen Jiabao calling for better legislation to match
government efforts to safeguard food products.
(China Daily December 28, 2007)