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(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-18 07:57

The timely response of the government to the contaminated milk powder incident, reflects an improvement in its ability to manage crises, says an article on the website of the People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

Over the past several days, the issue of contaminated milk powder has aroused wide concern in society. As we condemn those producers obsessed with the desire to make money, we also see the crisis management ability of our government, which has shown the same fast response in this incident as in the previous cases of SARS and the Sichuan earthquake.

Firstly, the government has established a national emergency system for major food safety accidents and formed a leading team to probe into the latest incident. The team comprises both central government departments, such as the health and quality-control authorities, as well as local government departments.

Second, the government has ensured complete medical treatment for the sick children, with all expenses being covered by government financial revenues.

Third, stricter checks have been conducted in the milk powder market. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine is shouldering the responsibility for thorough checks of all baby milk powders in the market.

Also, relevant government departments have launched an investigation into all stages in baby milk formula production such as cow breeding, raw milk collection and dairy processing in the hope of tracking down the cause of the contamination, as soon as possible.

In addition, harsher punishment will be given to those accountable in this case. Local governments are being told to draw lessons from this incident and further improve their food safety and quality monitoring system.

These measures are expected to prevent a repeat of similar incidents. The severe punishment of those responsible for the deaths and sickness of babies can also, at least, give some psychological comfort to the parents.

In 2006, the country unveiled the emergency reaction plan for four types of national public safety incidents - major health crises, natural disasters, accidents and social safety issues. The measures to deal with these were also detailed.

Meanwhile, the timely and authoritative disclosure of information is listed as an important part of the government's emergency reaction mechanism for such incidents as required by the disclosure of government information rules, effective from May 1.

Not long ago, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress reviewed the draft of the food safety law, an independent chapter of which is devoted to the prevention and management of food safety incidents.

In the contaminated milk powder case, the fast response of the government is the best reply for the whole society. In it, the masses can get a feel of the progress China has made in building a society based on the rule of law. And this is a comfort for the victims' families and also boosts the confidence of the public in the government.

(China Daily 09/18/2008 page8)