Product safety makes good business sense

This is my first visit to China as the European Union's commissioner for consumer policy representing more than half a billion consumers from what is still the largest integrated market in the world. It is a market with no internal barriers and one set of rules and standards, a market which China greatly benefits from, as does the EU from the Chinese market. Every single day we trade goods valued at 1 billion ($1.36 billion).

The Chinese economy has grown beyond all recognition over the past 30 years. This is a monumental achievement, but one which also has created huge challenges. The role of the consumer is changing in China, as evidenced from the increasing demand for safe products.

Thus, as business globalizes, with design from one continent, production in another and distribution and marketing skills from a third, we are also seeing a globalization of consumer interests. We are all consumers, we all want to be safe and we also want our families to be safe.