Concerns over plan for control of food safety

BEIJING - A plan to devolve control of food safety to city and county authorities has divided experts and government insiders over the impact it could have on supervision.

According to a document drawn up by the State Council, agencies covering product quality will soon be required to report their findings to officials at the same level, rather than superiors at the provincial level.

"Both watchdogs (the administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine and the administration of industry and commerce) are important for food safety regulation," reads the official document, dated Oct 10, "but the current rules have been superseded by the 2009 Food Safety Law, which says city and county governments should lead food safety supervision in their areas.