The Food Safety Law enjoys widespread support from the public, and the adoption of proposals to streamline the regulatory system and establish a food safety committee makes me very excited. There is still a period of time before the Food Safety Law formally comes into force. I hope the media will strengthen the publicity campaign to allow the general public as well as production and retail enterprises to have a better understanding of the law, and at the same time, I hope authorities will be fully prepared to enforcement it.
Zhao Fengqi, NPC deputy and Board Chairman of Jiangsu ShuangGou Liquor Group Company:
Ensuring food safety should start at the root. It will be an empty word if any of the steps or details is neglected. The first step should take place in the farm fields; the second step is to improve the detection of pesticide residue on food items; the third and most important step is to strengthen the administration of food additives; and the fourth step in food processing is the scientific use of containers.
Chen Zhenlou, NPC deputy and professor of the East China Normal University:
A lot of developed countries have institutions and working mechanisms for random food inspections. For example, France set up the position of “food detective” who specializes in the inspection of food safety. They walk around every day, and not only eat and drink food themselves, but also take samples back for testing. Once they discover problems, the related merchants are strictly punished in accordance with the laws and regulations, and are “blacklisted.” It is imperative to establish this type of system, but is also quite important to avoid their abuse of power, so it is also necessary to formulate a set of effective management and operation protocols.
Xing Xinhui, CPPCC member and Director of the Institute of Biochemical Engineering at Tsinghua University:
In view of the great gap between China’s urban and rural areas, the problem of food hygiene and the lack of management are seen in a great number of spots in villages and towns. It is particularly important for China to strengthen the supervision of food safety in villages and towns on the basis of the Food Safety Law.