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   Preface
 I. Current Situation of Energy Development
 II. Strategy and Goals of Energy Development
 III. All-round Promotion of Energy Conservation
 IV. Improving the Energy Supply Capacity
 V. Accelerating the Progress of Energy Technologies
 VI. Coordinating Energy and Environment Development
 VII. Deepening Energy System Reform
 VIII. Strengthening International Cooperation in the Field of Energy
 Conclusion
 Preface
 I. An Inevitable Choice in China's Social Development
 II. A Basic Political System for China
 III. Major Manifestations of Socialist Democracy
 IV. Political Consultation in the Multi-party Cooperation System
 V. Multi-party Cooperation System and Building of State Power
 VI. Multi-party Cooperation System and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
 VII. Multi-party Cooperation System and Modernization
 Conclusion
 Appendix. A Brief Introduction to China's Democratic Parties and Personages Without Party Affiliation
 Appendix: Basic Facts About the 155 Ethnic Autonomous Areas
 Foreword
 Chapter I The Security Situation
 Chapter II National Defense Policy
 Chapter III Revolution in Military Affairs with Chinese Characteristics
 Chapter IV Defense Expenditure and Defense Assets
 Chapter V The Military Service System
 Chapter VI National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force Building
 Chapter VII Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
 Chapter VIII The Armed Forces and the People
 Chapter IX International Security Cooperation
 Chapter X Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
 Appendix I Members of the CMC of the CPC
 Appendix II Leaders of the Four Headquarters/Departments of the PLA
 Appendix III Major Military Exchanges with Other Countries (2003-2004)
 Appendix IV Participation in Security Consultations (2003-2004)
 Appendix V Joint Exercises with Foreign Armed Forces (2003-2004)
 Appendix VI Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations
 Appendix VII Major Military Regulations Promulgated Since 2003
 Foreword
 I. The Present Situation of Mineral Resources and Their Exploration and Exploitation
 II. Targets and Principles for Mineral Resources Protection and Rational Utilization
 III. Increasing the Domestic Capability of Mineral Resources Supply
 IV. Widening the Opening of, and Cooperation in, Mineral Resources Exploration and Exploitation
 V. Achieving the Coordinated Development of Mineral Resources Exploitation and Environmental Protection
 VI. Improving the Management of Mineral Resources
 Foreword
 I. The Status Quo of the "Three Direct Links" Across the Straits and the Problems to Be Solved
 II. Realization of the "Three Direct Links"
 III. The Mainland's Basic Stand and Policies on the "Three Direct Links"
 IV. Explanations on Some Questions Related to the "Three Direct Links"
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 I. China's Basic Stand on Non-Proliferation
 II. Actively Participating in International Non-Proliferation Efforts
 III. Non-Proliferation Export Control System
 IV. Concrete Measures for Non-Proliferation Export Control
 V. Strictly Implementing the Laws and Regulations on Non-Proliferation Export Control
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Part One: Status and Role of the European Union
 Part Two: China's EU Policy
 Part Three: Strengthen China-EU Cooperation in All Fields
 I. The Political Aspect
 II. The Economic Aspect
 III. The Education, Science-Technology, Culture, Health and other Aspects
 IV. The Social, Judicial and Administrative Aspects
 V. The Military Aspect
 Foreword
 I. The Security Situation
 II. National Defense Policy
 III. The Armed Forces
 IV. National Defense Building
 V. Armed Forces Building
 VI. International Security Cooperation
 VII. Arms Control and Disarmament
 Appendix I Main Military Laws and Regulations Issued Since 2000
 Appendix II Major Military Exchanges with Other Countries in 2001-2002
 Appendix III Participation in Security Consultations in 2001-2002
 Appendix IV Participation in UN Peace-keeping Operations
 Appendix V Chinese Armed Forces’ Participation Since 2000 in Assisting Japan in Handling the Chemical Weapons Abandoned by Japan in China
 Introduction
 I. Aims and Principles
 II. Present Situation
 III. Future Development
 IV. International Cooperation
 Foreword
 I. The Security Situation
 II. National Defense Policy
 III. National Defense Construction
 IV. Armed Forces Building
 V. International Security Cooperation
 VI. Arms Control and Disarmament
 Foreword
 I. The International Security Situation
 II. National Defense Policy
 III. National Defense Construction
 IV. International Security Cooperation
 V. Arms Control and Disarmament
 Foreword
 I. Sustainable Marine Development Strategy
 II. Rational Development and Utilization of Marine Resources
 III. The Protection and Preservationof the Marine Environment
 IV. The Development of Oceanographic Science, Technology and Education
 V. The Implementation of ComprehensiveMarine Management
 VI. International Cooperation in Maritime Affairs
 I.Soaring Trade Between Chinaand the United States
 II.Statistical Difference in Sino-USTrade Balance
 III.Statistics Based on Rules of Origin CannotsAccurately Reflect the Situation of Sino-US Trade Balance
 IV.US Export Control Against China-- a Major Obstacle for Bilateral Trade Balance
 V.Sino-US Economic and Trade Co-operationShows Vast Vistas
 Foreword
 I. Promoting Peace and Developmentfor All Mankind
  II. Military Personnel Reducedby One Million
 III. Maintaining a Low Level ofDefence Spending
 IV. Peaceful Uses for MilitaryIndustrial Technologies
 V. Strict Control over the Transferof Sensitive Materials andMilitary Equipment
 VI. Actively Promoting International Arms Control and Disarmament
 Concluding Remarks
 III. Judicial Guarantee for Human Rights
 Foreword
 Foreword
 III. Judicial Guarantee for Human Rights
 I. People's Rights to Subsistence and Development
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Foreword
 II. Civil and Political Rights
 Foreword
 Concluding Remarks
 Foreword
 .Concluding Remarks
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Preface
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Preface
 IV. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
 II. Civil and Political Rights
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Foreword
 VI. Equal Rights and Special Protection for Ethnic Minorities
 III. Judicial Guarantee for Human Rights
 Foreword
 Preface
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 V. Equal Rights and Special Protection for Ethnic Minorities
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Preface
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Conclusion
 Preface
 Conclusion
 Conclusion
 Foreword
 Foreword
 Preface
 Preface
 Foreword
 X. Active Participation in International Human Rights Activities
 IX. Guarantee of Human Rights For the Disabled
 VIII. Family Planning and Protection Of Human Rights
 VII. Guarantee of the Rights of The Minority Nationality
 VI. Citizens Enjoy Freedom Of Religious Belief
 V. Guarantee of the Right to Work
 IV. Guarantee of Human Rights In China's Judicial Work
 III. Citizens Enjoy Economic, Cultural and Social Rights
 II. The Chinese People Have Gained Extensive Political Rights
 I. The Right to Subsistence--The Foremost Human Right The Chinese People Long Fight for
 VIII. Employment, Resettlement, Education and Protection for Convicts Who Have Served Their Term and Been Released
 VII. Carrying out the Punishment of Criminals
 VI. Humane Handling of Prisoners in Accordance with the Law
 V. Changing Criminals through Methods of Persuasion
 IV. Legal, Moral, Cultural and Technical Education of Criminals
 III. Reform of Criminals through Labour
 II. Guaranteeing the Rights of Criminals
 I. China's Basic Principles of Criminal Reform
 Part Two XII. Special State Aid for Tibet's Development
 Part Two XI. Protection of Living Environment
 Part Two X. People's Health and Demographic Growth
 Part Two IX. Development of Education and Culture
 Part Two VIII. Freedom of Religious Belief
 Part Two VII. Economic Development and Improvement of Living Standards
 Part Two VI. The People Enjoy Political Rights
 Part Two V. The People Gain Personal Freedom
 Part Two IV. Feudal Serfdom in Old Tibet
 Part One III. The Dalai Clique's Separatist Activities and the Central Government's Policy
 Part One II. Origins of So-Called 'Tibetan Independence'
 Part One I. Ownership of Tibet
 V. Several Questions Involving Taiwan in International Relations
 IV. Relations Across Taiwan Straits: Evolution and Stumbling Blocks
 III. The Chinese Government's Basic Position Regarding Settlement of the Taiwan Question
 II. Origin of the Taiwan Question
 I. Taiwan -- An Inalienable Part of China
 Chapter VIII Active Participation in International Women's Activities
 Chapter VII Organizational Guarantees of the Rights and Interests of Chinese Women
 Chapter VI Equal Status in Marriage and Family Life
 Chapter V Full Advance in Society
 Chapter IV Extensive Participation in Administration Of State and Social Affairs
 Chapter III Equal Rights and Important Role In Economic Sphere
 Chapter II Equal Legal Status
 Chapter I Historic Liberation of Chinese Women
 III. China Has a Complete Law Enforcement System for Intellectual Property Protection
 II. China Has a High-Grade Legal System for Intellectual Property Protection
 I. China's Basic Position Regarding the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
 VII. The Correct Choice for Human Rights Protection
 VI. Optimization Through Reform and Development
 V. Satisfying the Reproductive Health Needs of People of Child-bearing Age
 IV. Bringing the People to a Common Level of Understanding
 III. Combination of State Guidance with Voluntary Participation by the Masses
 II. A Social Undertaking That Benefits the People
 I. A Strategic Policy That Suits National Conditions
 X. Working Hard to Promote the Healthy Development of International Huma Rights Activities
 IX. Developing the Study of Human Rights and Popularizing the Knowledge of Human Rights
 VIII. Guarantee of the Rights and Interests of the Disabled
 VII. Guarantee of Rights and Interests of Ethnic Minorities
 VI. Protecting the Legitimate Rights and Interests of Women and Children
 V. The Right of Citizens to Education
 IV. The Right to Work of Citizens and the Rights and Interests of Worker.
 III. Judicial Work in Safeguarding Human Rights
 I. People's Right to Existence and Development
 V. China's Welfare Homes for Children
 IV. Protection of Disabled Children
 III. Education for Children
 II. Children's Health and Care
 I. Guarantee of Children's Rights and Interests
 VII. Taking Vigorous Action to Promote International Cooperation in Environmental Protection
 VI. Environmental Science and Technology, and Environmental Publicity and Education
 V. Protection of the Ecological Environment and Biodiversity
 IV. Territorial Control and Rural Environmental Protection
 III. The Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution and the Comprehensive Improvement of the Urban Environment
 II. Improving the Legal and Administrative Systems Step by Step
 I. The Choice of Implementing a Sustainable Development Strategy
 VII. Deepening Structural Reform and Creating a Favorable Policy Environment for Grain Production and Circulation
 VI. Comprehensively Developing, Utilizing and Protecting Land Resources for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture
 V. Developing Agriculture by Relying on Science, Technology and Education and Changing the Grain Increase Method
 IV. Striving to Improve Production Conditions to Increase the Comprehensive Grain Production Ability
 III. China Can Basically Achieve Self-Sufficiency in Grain Through Self-Reliance
 II. Prospects for China's Consumption Demand for Grain
 I. New China Has Solved the Problem of Feeding Its People
 The Grain Issue in China
 VII. Guarantee of the Rights of Ethnic Minorities
 VI. Legitimate Rights and Interests of Women and Children
 V. Citizens' Rights to Receive Education
 IV. Protection of Workers' Rights
 II. Citizens' Democratic Rights
 V. Protection of the Right to Freedom of Religious Belief for Ethnic Minorities
 IV. Support for Independence and Initiative in Management of Religious Affairs
 III. Judicial and Administrative Guarantees and Supervision of the Freedom of Religious Belief
 II. Legal Protection of the Freedom of Religious Belief
 I. The Present Conditions of Religion in China
 Concluding Remarks
 IV. The Right to Freedom of Religious Belief
 III. The People Enjoy the Rights to Education,Culture and Health Protection
 II. Economic Development and the People's Rights to Existence and Development
 I. Ethnic Regional Autonomy System and the People's Political Rights
 VII. Foreign Exchange and Co - operation in the Field of Human Rights
 VI. Protection of the Rights of Ethnic Groups
 V. Legitimate Rights and Interests of Women and Children
 IV. Citizens' Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
 II. Guarantee of Citizens' Political Rights
 I.People's Rights to Subsistence and development
 Notes:
 V. Preservation and Development of the Cultures of Ethnic Minorities
 IV. Promoting the Common Development of All Ethnic Groups
 III. Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities
 II. Adherence to Equality and Unity Among Ethnic Groups
 I. A United Multi-Ethnic Country
 VI. The Cross-Century Development Prospects for Human Rights in China
 IV. Protection of the Rights of Women and Children
 III. Civil Rights and Political Rights of Citizens Effectively Safeguarded
 II. Great Improvement in the Rights to Subsistence and Development, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
 I. A Historic Turning Point in the Progress of Human Rights in China
 VII. The News and Publishing, Broadcasting, Film and Television Industries Are Developing Rapidly
 VI. Popular Education Makes a Historic Leap
 V. Tibetan Studies Are Flourishing, and Tibetan Medicine and Pharmacology Have Taken On a New Lease of Life
 IV. Culture and Art Are Being Inherited and Developed in an All-Round Way
 III.Folk Customs and Freedom of Religious Belief Are Respected and Protected
 II.Cultural Relics and Ancient Books and Records Are Well Preserved and Utilized
 I.The Spoken and Written Tibetan Language Is Widely Studied and Used, and Being Developed
 Note
 VII. Developing International Cooperation in Drug Control
 VI. Raising the Consciousness of the Entire People Against Drugs
 V. Treatment and Rehabilitation
 IV. Exercising Strict Control over the Precursor Chemicals
 III. Cracking Down on Drug-related Crimes
 II. Constantly Strengthening Drug Control Legislation
 I.Sticking to the Position of Strict Drug Control
 IV. Guarantee Measures
 III. Plan of Action
 II. Targets and Principles
 I Current Situation and Prospect
 VII. Actively Carrying Out International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Realm of Human Rights
 V. Protection of Women and Children's Rights
 IV. The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Citizens
 II. The Guarantee of Citizens' Political Rights
 I. The Improvement of the People's Rights to Subsistence and Development
 V.The Aid-the-Rural-Poor Program in the Early Period of the 21st Century
 IV.The Aid-the-Poor Program for the Special Groups Among the Impoverished
 III.Major Contents and Channels of the Aid-the-Poor Program
 II.Policy Guarantee for the Aid-the-Poor Program
 I.The Course and Achievements of the Aid-the-Poor Program
 III. The Historical Inevitability of Tibet's Modernization
 II. Tibet's Modernization Achievements
 I. The Rapid Social Development in Tibet
 IV. Development in the Early Period of the 21st Century
 III. The Establishment of a Social Security System
 II. Formation of New Labor Relations
 I.Overall Stability in Employment Situation
 V. The Strategic Choice for Sustainable Development
 IV. Building an Ecology-Friendly Railway Line -- the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
 III. Ecological Improvement and Environmental Protection amid Economic Development
 II. Ecological Improvement and Biodiversity Protection
 I. Progress of the Ecological Improvement and Environmental Protection Work in Tibet
 III. Human Rights in Name, Hegemonism In Reality
 II. Confusing Right and Wrong and Calling Protection An "Abuse" of Human Rights
 I. Distorting Facts to Deceive the World Public Opinion
 VI. Improving the Management of Mineral Resources
 V. Achieving the Coordinated Development of Mineral Resources Exploitation and Environmental Protection
 IV. Widening the Opening of, and Cooperation in, Mineral Resources Exploration and Exploitation
 III. Increasing the Domestic Capability of Mineral Resources Supply
 II. Targets and Principles for Mineral Resources Protection and Rational Utilization
 I. The Present Situation of Mineral Resources and Exploration and Exploitation of the Resources
 VIII. International Exchanges and Cooperation in Human Rights
 VII. The Rights and Interests of the Disabled
 VI. Equal Rights and Special Protection for Ethnic Minorities
 V. The Rights and Interests of Women and Children
 III.Judicial Guarantee for Human Rights
 I. The People's Rights to Subsistence and Development
 VI. Employment Prospects for the Early Part of the 21st Century
 V. Employment of Women, Youth and Disabled People
 IV. Employment of Rural Workforce
 III. Improving the Quality of the Workforce
 II. Proactive Employment Policy
 I. Basic Employment Situation
 V. Regional Ethnic Autonomy Is the Fundamental Guarantee for Tibetan People As Masters of Their Own Affairs
 IV. The Tibetan People Have the Freedom to Inherit and Develop Their Traditional Culture and to Practice Their Religious Belief
 III. The Tibetan People Have Full Decision-making Power in Economic and Social Development
 II. The Tibetan People Enjoy Full Political Right of Autonomy
 I. The Establishment and Development of Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet
 X. Social Security in Rural Areas
 IX. Housing Security
 VIII. Social Relief
 VII. Special Care and Placement
 VI. Social Welfare
 V. Maternity Insurance
 IV. Insurance for Work-related Injuries
 III. Medical Insurance
 II. Unemployment Insurance
 I. Old-age Insurance
 X. Arms Control, Disarmament and Non- Proliferation
 IX. International Security Cooperation
 VIII.The Armed Forces and the People
 VII. Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
 VI. National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force Building
 V. The Military Service System
 IV. Defense Expenditure and Defense Assets
 III. Revolution in Military Affairs with Chinese Characteristics
 II. National Defense Policy
 I. The Security Situation
 V. Historical Development of Various Undertakings in Ethnic Autonomous Areas
 IV. The Central Government's Support and Assistance for Ethnic Autonomous Areas
 III. The Right of Self-Government of Ethnic Autonomous Areas
 II. The Political Status of Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities and the Establishment of Ethnic Autonomous Areas
 I. A Unified Multi-Ethnic State, and Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities
 VII. International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights
 VI. The Rights and Interests of the Disabled
 V. Equal Rights and Special Protection for Ethnic Minorities
 IV. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
 III. Judicial Guarantee for Human Rights
 II. Civil and Political Rights
 I. People's Rights to Subsistence and Development
 IX. Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
 VIII. Public Security Organs Act on Criminal Infringement on Intellectual Property Rights
 VII. Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
 VI. Protection of New Varieties of Agricultural and Forestry Plants
 V. Intellectual Property Rights Protection for Audio and Video Products
 IV. Copyright Protection
 III. Trademark Protection
 II. Patent Protection
 I. Basic Situation of the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
 IX. Legal Guarantees of Women's Rights and Interests
 VIII. Women and the Environment
 VII. Women, Marriage and the Family
 VI. Women and Health
 V. Women and Education
 IV. Women's Participation in Decision Making and Management
 III. Women and Poverty Elimination
 II. Women and the Economy
 I. State Mechanism to Promote Gender Equality and Development of Women
 Annex III: Agreements on Disarmament and Confidence-Building Measures Between China and Relevant Countries
 Annex II: Laws and Regulations of China on Non-Proliferation Export Control
 Annex I: List of Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Treaties That China Has Joined
 VI. Tightening Non-Proliferation Export Control
 V. Actively Participating in International Non-Proliferation Efforts
 IV. Committed to National and Regional Disarmament
 III. Participating in and Promoting International Arms Control and Disarmament Process
 II. China's Basic Policy and Position
 I. International Security and Arms Control Situation
 X. Judicial Democracy
 IX. Government Democracy
 VIII. The Democratic Rule by the Communist Party of China
 VII. Respecting and Safeguarding Human Rights
 VI. Grassroots Democracy in Urban and Rural Areas
 V. The System of Ethnic Regional Autonomy
 IV. The System of Multi-Party Cooperation and Political Consultation Under the Leadership of the CPC
 III. The People's Congress System
 II. The CPC Led the People to Become Masters of the State
 I. A Choice Suited to China's Conditions
 V. Building a Harmonious World of Sustained Peace and Common Prosperity
 IV. Seeking Mutual Benefit and Common Development with Other Countries
 III. Developing by Relying on Its Own Strength, Reform and Innovation
 II. Promoting World Peace and Development with China's Own Growth
 I. Peaceful Development Is the Inevitable Way for China's Modernization
 X. International Cooperation in Environmental Protection
 IX. Environmental Science and Technology, Industry and Public Participation
 VIII. Environmental Impact Assessment
 VII. Economic Policy and Investment Concerning the Environment
 VI. Ecological Protection and Construction
 V. Protection of the Rural Environment
 IV. Protection of the Urban Environment
 III. Pollution Control in Key Regions
 II. Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution
 I. Environmental Protection Legislation and System
 VII. Safeguarding Elderly People's Legitimate Rights and Interests
 VI. Participation in Social Development
 V. Cultural Education for the Aged
 IV. Social Services for an Ageing Society
 III. Health and Medical Care for the Aged
 II. Old-age Security System
 I. State Mechanism of Undertakings for the Aged
 Foreword
 X. State Support for the Development of Xinjiang
 IX. Establishment, Development and Role of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
 VIII. Upholding Equality and Unity Among Ethnic Groups, and Freedom of Religious Belief
 VII. The People's Living Standard and Quality of Life Have Been Enhanced
 VI. Progress in Education, Science and Technology, Culture and Health Work
 V. The Economic Development of Xinjiang After the Founding of New China
 IV. Origin of the "East Turkistan" Issue
 III. The Administration of Xinjiang by the Successive Central Governments
 II. Diverse Religions Coexist and Spread in Xinjiang
 I. Xinjiang Has Been a Multi-ethnic Region Since Ancient Times
 Conclusion
 V. International Exchanges and Cooperation Regarding Food Safety
 IV. Law Regime and Technological Guarantee System for Food Safety
 III. Supervision of Imported and Exported Food
 II. Food Safety Regulatory System and Work
 I. Food Production and Food Quality
 Preface

 
 China A-Z HOME
II. Food Safety Regulatory System and Work
Close SRC-540

To ensure food safety, the Chinese government adheres to the principle of giving priority to prevention and control at its root by monitoring and controlling the whole process, and has formed a regulatory format in which the local governments take the responsibility, related departments provide guidance and conduct coordination, and different sectors make concerted efforts under the unified national leadership. In response to the circumstances in China, the State Council issued the Decision on Further Strengthening Food Safety Supervision in 2004, according to which one monitoring link is supervised by one department; sectional supervision is adopted as the main means while supervision of different varieties as the supplementary means, making clearer the functions and responsibilities of the food safety supervisory departments. The Decision divided food safety supervision into four links, managed by the departments of agriculture, quality supervision and inspection, industry and commerce, and health, respectively. The production of primary agricultural products is supervised by the agriculture department, the quality and daily hygiene supervision of food processing is overseen by the quality supervision and inspection department, supervision of food circulation and distribution is done by the department of industry and commerce, and that of the catering industry and canteens is taken care of by the health department. The integrated food-safety supervision and coordination, and investigation of and penalties imposed for major incidents in this regard are the responsibility of the department of food and drug administration, while imported and exported agricultural products and other foodstuffs are supervised by the quality supervision and inspection department. In this way, there is a strict, complete regulatory system for food safety supervision in which the departments concerned work in close cooperation, with clearly defined functions and responsibilities.

As it is a prolonged and arduous task to strengthen food safety control, a regulatory system and a lasting efficiency mechanism should be established and improved, and planned with consideration given to both present and future needs to deal with both the symptoms and root causes of food safety problems, especially the latter.

The Chinese government stresses food safety from the source, improvement of the related basic regulatory systems, and strengthening of food safety supervision.

1. Intensifying Supervision on the Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products

In 2001, China started to implement the Hazard-free Food Action Plan, focusing on the control of residue of high-toxic pesticides in vegetables and clenbuterol hydrochloride contamination in livestock products, to address the most concerned problems of illegal use of high-toxic pesticide and veterinary medicines, as well as violations of residue standards. The Plan stipulates a complete supervisory process from farmland to market by emphasizing the three key aspects of materials used in farming, production and market excess. By carrying out regular monitoring and inspection, the Plan aims at enhancing people's awareness of food quality and safety, ensuring management responsibility, and improving the levels of management and quality and safety of agricultural products by means of standardization. Today, the system for securing the quality and safety of agricultural products is improving, with steadily strengthened supervisory capacity and notable progress in agricultural standardization, leading to the formation of a work mechanism integrating service, management, supervision, penalty and emergency response, to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products.

2. Establishing and Strictly Implementing Market Access Systems for Food Quality and Safety

The food quality and safety market access systems established by the Chinese government in 2001 comprise three major ones. One, the production license system, which requires that food-processing enterprises cannot produce and market their products without having the capability to control the source materials' quality, and the adequate conditions to ensure food quality and safety in terms of production equipment, technological flow, product standardization, testing equipment and capability, environment, quality control, storage and transportation, packaging and labeling, and production staff. Enterprises can produce and sell food only after obtaining a food production license. Two, the compulsory inspection system, which means that enterprises have the legal obligation to ensure that their food products pass quality inspection before entering the market. Three, the market access labeling system, i.e., enterprises are required to put on food products the QS label, guaranteeing their quality and safety. Following the principle of phased implementation, by the end of June 2007, some 107,000 food production licenses had been issued to enterprises, which took up over 90 percent of the market of their trades. Meanwhile, supervision has been strengthened over enterprises with food production licenses. By the end of June 2007,1,276 food production licenses had been withdrawn, cancelled, revoked or nullified for substandard food products.

In pace with the growing number of enterprises obtaining the license, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has released lists of such enterprises, making clear that producers without the license and products without the QS label must not enter the market, and warning consumers not to use such products.

3. Intensifying State Supervision by Sample Survey for Food Quality

The Chinese government carries out a food supervision and inspection system mainly by means of sample survey. Since it was set up in 1985, the system has been strengthened and become more focused to enhance its efficiency. In recent years, daily-consumption food items, such as dairy products, meat products, tea, beverages, grain and edible oil, have become the major targets of sample surveys, especially those produced in workshops and enterprises located in concentrated food-producing areas. Special attention has been given to the hygienic indices of microorganisms, additives and heavy metals in food, and to follow-up inspections of small enterprises with unstable product quality. By increasing sample survey frequency and coverage, the goal of rectifying producers of the same type of food by means of sample survey has been by and large met. The state supervisory sample surveys were carried out on 11,104 batches of foodstuffs produced by 7,880 enterprises from 2006 to June 2007. Meanwhile, greater efforts have been made to rectify and punish enterprises turning out substandard products, and to set things straight by means of the following: First, strictly implementing the public announcement system. Three hundred and fifty-five batches of food with serious quality problems produced by 355 enterprises were found in sample surveys and publicly announced. At the same time, publicity is given to good enterprises, quality products and sound brands. Two hundred and forty products winning the title of "Famous Chinese Brand" and 548 freed-from-inspection products have become popular among consumers. Second, strictly carrying out the rectification system. Enterprises with substandard products are urged to rectify themselves strictly, to be examined again in due course. If problems persist, they will be ordered to stop production for an overhaul. If they still cannot pass the inspection after the overhaul, their business licenses will be revoked. Third, strictly implementing the penalty system. Producers who mix impurities or imitations with their products, or pass fake or defective products off as genuine ones will be ordered to stop production, and their products be confiscated. Legal liabilities will be imposed in serious cases by the judicial organs.

4. Intensifying Rectification of Food Workshops

Regional differences and disparities between urban and rural areas in China make the supervision of food workshops a prolonged and arduous task. At present, food workshops with fewer than ten employees are the ones that pose the most difficult problem for ensuring food quality and safety. For workshops engaged in traditional, low-risk food processing, the government sticks to the principle of supervision and standardization while giving guidance to such workshops for consumers' convenience. On the one hand, the government has tried to upgrade them to the market-access requirements by means of shutdown, stoppage of production, merging or changing line of business; on the other, more stringent supervisory measures have been taken to prevent food safety accidents. In recent years, supervision of workshops and small enterprises has been conducted mainly in four aspects: One, transformation of basic work conditions. Workshops cannot start production without meeting the requirements. Two, restrictions on market scope. Food products processed by such small workshops are not allowed to sell outside the administrative areas of townships or towns in which they are located, not allowed to enter shopping centers and supermarkets. Three, restrictions on food packaging. Before obtaining a market access permit, food products from the workshops are not allowed to have marketing package, so that they cannot enter the market disguised as licensed goods. Four, public undertaking. Food workshops must undertake to the public that they do not use any non-food materials, misuse additives, use recycled food, send their products to shopping centers or supermarkets, or market their products beyond the approved region, and guarantee that their food products meet the basic safety and hygienic standards. After such rectifications, the average acceptance rate in sample surveys of food workshops rose to 70.4 percent in 2006. By the end of June 2007, 5,631 workshops had been closed down, 8,814 had been made to suspend production, and 5,385 had reached the requirements after rectification.

5. Promoting the Responsibility System for Regional Food Safety Control

The responsibility system for regional food safety control mainly comprises the following aspects. First, to have specified persons responsible for specified regions and enterprises. The system requires that food safety inspectors of the quality supervision and inspection department go to the townships to supervise the food-processing enterprises; township government coordinators assist the inspectors in supervising food quality and safety; and local reporters bring to attention anything illegal regarding food quality and safety. The number of inspectors, coordinators and local reporters must be fixed, their duties defined, and their working areas and inspecting enterprises designated. Second, the system requires "three enters" and "four graphs." The former refers to entering villages, households and enterprises to find out their working conditions and set up files of food producers and processors; the latter refers to drawing up a graph showing dynamic changes in enterprises, a graph showing the distribution of food producers and processors, a graph showing the implementation of supervisory duties, and a graph giving food safety precautions, so as to carry out proactive monitoring and control. Third, the system requires local governments to sign documents of responsibility, enterprises to sign letters of undertaking, and quality supervision and inspection departments to submit regular food safety reports.

By the end of June 2007, a total of 16,030 food-safety supervision regions had been set up, 25,346 full-time food-safety inspectors had been put to work, 72,474 local government coordinators had been appointed, and 106,573 food-safety reporters had been recruited in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. In 2006, the quality supervision and inspection departments at various levels made 900,000 inspections of food producing and processing enterprises.

6. Stepping up Supervision of the Food Circulation Sector

The "Three Green Projects" have been vigorously promoted in China, advocating "green consumption, green markets and green channels." The government encourages modern modes of organization and management for circulation, positively supports the development of chain management and logistics provision; urges marketing enterprises to examine materials before accepting them, check business licenses, require invoices for purchases, keep accounts of transactions and honor their undertakings for food quality, as well as promotes market managers' food quality responsibility system; implements market inspection system in an all-around way; improves the food quality monitoring system, and strictly implements the system that substandard food must be withdrawn from the market and destroyed and made known to the public; strengthens administration over butchering of livestock and fowls, breaks down regional barriers and encourages the nationwide circulation of high-quality foodstuffs with good credit standing and prestigious brand names; improves food processing, circulation and service systems in communities; strengthens the management of the use of genuine food safety labels and standard packaging, and concentrates efforts to crack down on printing of fake packaging, labels and trademarks.

7. Intensifying Supervision of Food Safety in Catering Industry

Hygiene in the catering industry is vital for food safety. In this regard, the Chinese government has primarily done the following: One, it has intensified supervision on hygiene in the catering industry, promulgated and put into effect the Hygienic Standards for the Catering Industry and Group Food Service Providers, adopted a quantified and classified supervisory system for food hygiene management, and strengthened supervision on each link of the catering industry. Two, it has urged the catering industry and canteens to implement the quantified and classified supervisory system for food hygiene management in an all-around way, improved and strengthened monitoring of food contamination and building of a monitoring system on diseases caused by contaminated food. Three, it has intensified crackdown on activities in violation of food safety law, investigated and dealt with serious cases and timely made them known to the public. In 2006, the health departments inspected 2.04 million catering entities of various types and school canteens, dealt with 45,000 cases of illegal food processing and sale and closed down 25,000 food processors and sellers that had been operating without hygiene permits. Four, it has strengthened efforts on hygienic work in schools, directed and carried out special inspections on food and drinking water hygiene, and prevention and treatment of contagious diseases in schools all over the country, as well as prevention of food poisoning and the spread of communicable intestinal diseases. Five, it has conducted food-related jeopardy assessment and issued early warnings for food safety problems on a scientific basis and provided food assessment information.

8. Carrying out Rectification in Respect of Food Quality and Safety in an All-around Way

In order to crack down on the spread of counterfeit and shoddy foodstuffs in certain regions, special comprehensive rectification campaigns were launched in these regions for food quality and safety. The Chinese government has conducted a special project involving hundreds of regions, thousands of townships and tens of thousands of food producers and processors. Targeting key regions, food processing venues and households and their products, the project has resolved the regional problem of producing and selling fake and inferior goods by establishing a food safety monitoring network, stepping up efforts in building up the technological forces such as standardization and monitoring technology, improving technical services for enterprises, promoting the setting up of food industry associations, and intensifying law enforcement and making more stringent efforts to crack down on the production and sale of counterfeit and faulty food. Meanwhile, the departments of industry and commerce as well as quality supervision and inspection keep intensifying law enforcement and, with focus on food quality and safety, direct and conduct special law enforcement actions against activities in producing and processing counterfeit food-related items at the source, strictly crack down on illegal activities such as production of food with non-food materials and misuse of additives in food, as well as food producers with neither a business license nor food-processing permit. In 2006, the quality supervision and inspection departments handled 49,000 illegal operations in this field, confiscating counterfeit and shoddy foodstuffs worth 450 million yuan. In the same year, the departments of industry and commerce sent 5.6 million person/times for law enforcement and inspected 16,000 key food markets and 10.4 million food operating business/times, closed down 151,800 unlicensed businesses, revoked4,629 business licenses, investigated and dealt with 68,000 cases of production and sale of counterfeit and shoddy food, of which 48cases were referred to the relevant judicial organs, and ordered 15,500 tons of substandard foodstuffs off the market.

9. Beefing up the Construction of a Risk-warning and Emergency-response System

The Chinese government has established a nationwide quick risk warning and responding system in respect of food safety, actively conducted risk monitoring and control in food production, processing, circulation and consumption, and preliminarily realized the early discovery, early warning, early control and early treatment of food-safety problems through efficient collection and analysis of information on food safety. It has also established a rapid and efficient response mechanism covering the collection and analysis of risk-related information, issuing warnings and rapid responses so that it is possible to provide prompt reports, take swift action, make accurate judgment and mete out appropriate measures.

10. Establishing and Improving a Food Recall System

This system comprises two aspects: active recall and instructed recall. The system stipulates that it is the responsibility of food producing and processing enterprises to recall their products if necessary, requires that food producers should instantly put a halt to the production and selling of their products if they suspect any safety risk in their food products, and take the initiative to recall such food products. Producers who purposely conceal food hazards or do not perform their recall obligations, or whose faulty production has extended such hazards or made them recur, will be instructed to recall their products. In recent years, in conducting food sample surveys and law enforcement, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has become more stringent in demanding food recall when major food-safety hazards, such as pathogenic bacteria, chemical pollutant or non-food materials, are found in food products. Toward those food producing enterprises causing serious consequences, the Administration has revoked their licenses, thus reducing hazards that might be caused by unsafe food and safeguarding the health and safety of consumers.

11. Improving the Food Safety Credit System

The Chinese government pays great attention to the construction of the credit system for food safety, and has set up the preliminary credit records for food-producing enterprises, as well as a system to publicize the honor rolls and blacklists of food producers and processors.

Meanwhile, the functions of chambers of commerce and trade associations have been brought into full play to promote self-discipline in the food industry. By giving backing to excellent and competent enterprises, the government supports and helps good and strong enterprises by legislative, administrative and economic means to create an honest environment for food safety, and to enhance people's awareness of honesty in this regard. It has made great efforts in gradual improvement of this mechanism for food safety, and given full scope to its role in regulating, guiding and supervising food safety. It has built up files of credit records of food safety and promoted classified credit monitoring in the food industry. Emphasis is laid on the establishment of a registration and information system and a classified database of credit records of food producers and sellers, which collects information on food producers' and sellers' market access, food-safety control, and consumers' complaints and reports, to ensure an effective control based on adequate information. In recent years, the latest network technology has been used for this purpose, so that consumers may timely, easily, quickly and effectively distinguish counterfeits from genuine ones, which greatly helps safeguard consumers' interests, discourages the production and sale of fake foodstuffs and promotes honesty among enterprises in this industry.

Over the years, the continuous growth of the food industry in terms of variety and quantity as well as the improvement of quality have helped satisfy the people's ever-increasing consumption demands, raised their living standard and promoted national economic development. However, the Chinese government is well aware that there are still problems with food safety, owing to the country's limited socio-economic development. In the days to come, penalties will be focused on those who produce shoddy products or products containing inferior materials or impurities, palm off counterfeits as genuine ones, process foodstuff with non-food or moldy materials, produce foodstuff in disregard of required standards and misuse additives in foodstuff, so as to continuously guarantee food safety and quality.
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