Source: CCTV.com

12-28-2007 09:11

The NPC Standing Committee is debating the draft Food Safety Law. Law-makers say the draft law needs to clarify supervisory bodies' responsibilities, and improve the production permit system.

Members of NPC Standing Committee are discussing draft food safety law.

Legislators say there are too many layers of supervision with over-lapping responsibilities.

The draft law gives overall responsibility to local governments. Legislators say that will help close supervisory holes.

Wang Yongyan, Member of NPC Standing Committee said "The draft law stipulates that local governments above the county level should take overall responsibility for food safety. They need to coordinate more. And coordination needs to be effective."

But other members say the law needs to further clarify supervisory departments and their particular responsibilities.

Fang Xin, Member of NPC Standing Committee said "The draft law is rather vague when it comes to supervisory responsibilities. And it still retains the current multi-supervision model. We should improve supervisory resources to make supervision more efficient and reduce administrative costs."

Law-makers also proposed hygiene certificates instead of production permits for small-scale food producers. Right now, only one in five of the country's 450,000 food producers can meet the requirements for a production permit.

Fang Xin said "Rather than writing such unrealistic requirements into the law, it would be better to stipulate classifications of business management. Large-scale producers would need production permits, while small-scale facilities would need hygiene certificates. Because hygiene is the bottom line."

Other proposals include making producers more accountable, and requirements for disposal of unsafe food after product re-calls.

Editor:Xiong Qu