China continues to be plagued by food safety failures, according to a report filed by the country’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
The report was the result of a three month probe and it delivered a damning assessment of the safety standards within China’s food and beverage sector.
Officials said that while progress had been made, the investigation uncovered a string of persistent problems, including unethical food manufacturers, corrupt officials and widespread negligence towards regulations and laws.
Vice Chairman of the Committee, Lu Yongxiang, said that despite the crackdowns, a number of companies continue to ignore regulations and act in an “underhand and dishonest fashion”.
With concerns over the legal framework for food safety, the country’s lawmakers are drafting suggestions on how to improve the system.
The suggestions included:
- The State Council to be stricter in ensuring local agencies enforce food safety laws
- More resources are made available for inspection (staff, equipment)
- Public/media encouraged to report food safety breaches
Image courtesy of http://www.chinahearsay.com