China & U.S. Taking Steps to Improve Food Safety

Over the past year, our country has faced countless food and product recalls. Although not all of the recent recalls have been the fault of our lacking regulatory import policies, many of the recalled products did come from China. The obvious missteps have pushed consumers and legislators to force change.

United States and Chinese officials signed agreements on December 11, giving the U.S. more involvement in the screening of Chinese products. The agreements not only help to protect American consumers, but also provide them with peace of mind. The “Made in China” label can begin to lose some of its current negative stigma. In turn, the Chinese economy will not suffer as anticipated.

Under the agreements, the FDA will still have to request permission to inspect processing and manufacturing facilities but cannot be easily turned away. China will implement certification and testing systems that will ensure shipments meet United States standards. Some Chinese exporters will also be required to register with China’s regulatory agencies, and the U.S. will have access to the list of registered exporters.

The new agreement applies to canned vegetables, farm-raised fish, pet food products and raw ingredients imported from China. Some medicines are also covered in the agreement, including antibiotics and human growth hormones.

The agreement is deficient in some areas, but it is a first step.