(CN): China says food safety scares threaten stability

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Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1109015

 

China says food safety scares threaten stability

Reuters

Monday, July 09, 2007 13:35 IST

 

BEIJING: China risks damaging its global credibility and provoking

social instability if it does not tackle its food and drug quality

problems, an official said in a rare admission amid a series of scares

over tainted products.

 

China's safety failings have drawn world attention since mislabelled

chemical exports were found in cough syrup in Panama and pet food in

the United States. There have been a series of recalls and bans on

items ranging from toys to toothpaste.

 

In one of the most recent, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said

it would not allow imports of Chinese farm-raised seafood unless

suppliers could prove the shipments held no harmful residues. " The

food security problems have impeded Chinese agri-products and food

many times in international trade, and damaged our national

credibility and image, " Sun Xianze, director of food safety

coordination at the State Food and Drug Administration, said at a

weekend seminar.

 

" The occurence of food safety incidents or cases not only affects the

healthy development of the whole industry, but also may impact upon

economic and social stability, " Sun was quoted as saying by state

media. Dealing with these problems was being hampered by indolent and

irresponsible officials and companies, admitted administration head

Shao Mingli in a statement on its Web site (www.sda.gov.cn).