"China: Imported food will soon have "Black List" warnings"

Regulations on imported foods will now be stricter. The National Quality Inspection Bureau released yesterday the "Rules of Imported Food Record Management". This will serve as a guideline for imported goods. Importers who do not follow the rules will be recorded and given warnings. Control measures will then be implemented in different degrees.

The new rules will take effect as of 1 July, 2014. According to the new rules, the bureau will have the right to inform other government departments, industry associations, other enterprises, consumers, international organizations, foreign governments, about the food safety information, in addition to food safety inspection and quarantine work. The bureau will now regularly publish a “Black List” for those who do not meet quality standards. Previously, the state department only takes action on the quality of what is being inspected, and does not take action on the importer.

The bureau will implement measures involving enterprises and products with bad records. If a pattern is detected and an enterprise continues to maintain a bad reputation, more stringent control measures will be taken to the point that a company may be suspended or even get its certifications and registrations revoked.