¶ … imported food labeling and safety aspects in China. Of late, China has become a key food import source in the U.S. Chinese food imports increased more than thrice in value from 2001 to 2008. A number of highly publicized food adulteration and contamination cases in China's local food supply as well as in its imported goods to America have led public concern to be directed towards safety of Chinese foods (Gale and Buzby, 2009). Partly inspired by the above concerns, an American Governmental Import Safety IWG (Interagency Working Group) published an import safety action plan, while the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) published its 2007 Food Protection Plan. In the year 2008, the FDA established its very first foreign office in Beijing, China.

The Agency's refusals of food shipments from China indicate the product mix imported: shellfish and fish, vegetable and fruit products constitute the majority of refusals. A majority of food imports from China undergo a certain degree of processing. FDA cites "filth," insufficient labeling, absence of appropriate manufacturer registrations, and unsafe additives as the most widespread issues, which are often introduced in the course of product handling and processing. A second commonplace issue -- that of possible residues of toxic veterinary drug in shrimp and fish cultivated at farms -- occurs at the level of the farm. A less frequently cited problem is that of harmful pathogens and pesticide residues in food shipments from China. Authorities in China attempt to control exported food safety by means of farm and exporter certification (Gale and Buzby, 2009). However, these certified exporters make up a minor percentage of the country's food industry. A majority of its 200 million food companies and farms are, technically, not a part of exported food supply chains. Nevertheless, keeping an eye on the broad array of food products and potential hazards at different points of the supply chain represents a challenge, both for U.S. and Chinese authorities. Food safety-related exchanges and consultations between U.S. and Chinese authorities are a key step towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of supervision and enforcement of American food safety requirements in China's food shipments to the U.S.

Examples on Why Food Labeling and Regulations Are Important

A number of news networks -- Australian Press, Xinhua and Associated Press -- reported the death of 11 individuals and sickness of some 120-140 more from contaminated vinegar. Tensions were fueled by the reason behind this mass poisoning: The victims -- the Overwhelmingly-Muslim Uighurs -- are an ethnic minority group residing in a tiny far-western Xinjiang village, whose goal to achieve political freedom from Beijing resulted in riots in the year 2009; these riots were crushed violently (McKenna, 2011). Nearly all members of the village (roughly 150 individuals in total), had congregated for iftar (i.e., breaking of the Ramadan fast).

The above case was the month's second vinegar-related scandal. A couple of weeks prior to the incident, an officer belonging to the organization responsible for overseeing Shanxi province's vinegar production stated that 95% of its popular "aged" vinegar was treated using industrial acid for reducing fermentation time, thereby turning out batches more quickly. These examples are only the most recent ones (McKenna, 2011). Preceding these cases are instances of "phosphorescent" meat; exploding watermelons; contaminated buns; bleach-infused mushrooms; rice containing heavy metal; forty tons in weight of carcinogen- and antibiotic- imbued bean sprouts; and highly doped pork, against which athletes in attendance at a worldwide sporting meeting held in Shanghai were warned.

Importance

No less than six Chinese government authorities have been delegated the task of enforcing the nation's food safety system. Its Food Safety Committee oversees and coordinates the above authorities' activities. On March 10, 2013, the Chinese State Council put forward a proposal for the restructuring of particular commissions and ministries, before the National People's Congress (NPC). The proposal was approved four days later. This restructuring endeavor will greatly affect the nation's food safety system, particularly, by its allotting of more control to State General Administration of Food and Drug (SGFDA) (Food Safety in China - From a Regulatory Perspective -- Norton Rose Fulbright). What the nation considered not even 4 years back as a central component of the resolution to its food safety issues is once again undergoing reform. This newest reorganization has, possibly, resulted from Chinese lawmakers' experimentation to find the right resolution -- this is not a new concept in the nation's legislative system, but is, rather, more likely to be an indication of a constant regulatory power struggle. This situation of flux within the nation's food safety system augments unpredictability in rules to be abided by and implemented by food companies. Extremely stringent sanctions hang over their heads.

Under the Food Safety Law (FSL), this ministry is empowered to: (i) Establish and announce standards; (ii) Organize and implement risk assessment and monitoring plans relating to food safety; (iii) Divulge food safety-related information; and (iv) Manage the nation's food safety crisis. The ministry will reportedly be delegated more power under the next comprehensive governmental agency reform in the country (Food Safety in China - From a Regulatory Perspective -- Norton Rose Fulbright). The task of ascertaining the restaurant (catering) sector's food safety was, surprisingly enough, assigned to the SFDA (State FDA) and its domestic divisions. All individuals or companies engaging in food catering have to acquire an SFDA Food Catering Services License. The Agency is empowered to conduct inspections of food catering sites and close up any sub-standard raw materials or food products. The SFDA is also authorized to command food catering services' suspension, revoke their licenses, and levy fines. In reality, the above responsibility coincides with that of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), authorized to conduct inspections of all sorts of everyday commercial activities, such as food catering. Compared to the American FDA's prominent role, the Chinese SFDA has a marginal status in the nation's food safety management structure. Theoretically speaking, import restrictions to suppliers under the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) system can bring about food safety improvements. But an appreciable amount of resources are needed for constant monitoring of the large number of production sites and firms, and for ensuring latest information is acquired. A journalists' study of Shaanxi Province's export registration observed that raw material source inspection of some exporters failed to keep up with facility upgrades and extended production volume. In the agreement's implementation, AQSIQ and FDA have striven to further their partnership in risk- and science-based safety structures, participated in discussions on laboratory testing standards, and started working with the approval and support of aquatic ingredient- and product- linked working groups. In November of 2008, the FDA established its very first foreign office in China.
Chinese food labeling is, at present, controlled by various standards, laws, and regulations that cover: 1) general requirements for product labeling (for instance, net weight, barcodes, quality certificates and so forth); 2) general requirements for food labeling (for instance, ingredient list, food additives list, and so forth); and 3) conditions for specific labeling data (for instance, quality supervision marks, nutritional labels, etc.), specific kinds of foodstuff's labels (like, health foods, green foods, GM foods, and so on) and food labels for different kinds of products sold under a common family name (for example, under the category of "candies," one may include "hard candies," "aerated candies," "creamy candies," etc.). In practice, variations among diverse Chinese food labeling standard and rules usually make it hard to identify appropriate labeling conditions for individual products (Fu-Tomlinson and Wang, 2015). Further, enforcement of food labeling laws is becoming more stringent in the nation. Non-adherence to food labeling is normally revealed via investigations or inspections commenced by appropriate governmental authorities, like QTSB (Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau) and CIQ (China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine) Bureau. Earlier, food safety in China experienced corresponding supervision by multiple Chinese authorities, like QTSB, CIQ, the Chinese FDA division, and Administration for Industry and Commerce. At present, reorganization activities pertaining to the appropriate regulatory framework are in progress at the local and national levels, in keeping with State Council-issued institutional restructuring scheme dated March of 2013 (Fu-Tomlinson and Wang, 2015). After reorganization activities are completed, the Chinese FDA office will function as the key authority in charge of managing and supervising food production and distribution. Meanwhile QTSB's focus will be product safety at processing stage, and CIQ will be in charge of exported and imported foodstuff safety. Imported food labels are regularly challenged by corresponding regional CIQs.

Conclusion

Swift growth in Chinese food imports and their surprising resilience despite extensive negative publicity suggests the strong demand for the nation's products. Seeking ways to guarantee safe product flow from China will benefit Chinese suppliers as well as their buyers in America. Corporate leaders and regulatory authorities encounter difficult challenges in seeking innovative answers to facilitating trade between nations having different legal and agricultural structures (Gale and Buzby, 2009). Decision-making entities of the private sector might have to take expensive steps, including closer…