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Increased interdependency - common solutions
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-30 07:46
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Liang Mei, the executive vice president and secretary general of the China Toy Association debates with EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva the challenges for China of meeting EU standards for toy safety. |
Team Leader Bartley stressed that: "Despite the differences in language, culture and history and the ongoing trade disagreements that do exist, both the EU and China share much in common, in particular a strong belief in sustainable development strategies and the need to harmonize policies across large populations and regions. Although at different stages of economic development both regions face common challenges, and it is increasingly apparent that both regions can learn much from each other."
A few examples of commonalities between the regions were explained. "During the 1990s Europe faced a number of problems guaranteeing food safety for European consumers. The resulting food safety scares required a complete overhaul of policies and regulations and even resulted in the launch of the European Food Safety Authority. As a result the EU is recognized today as having one of the safest food regimes in the world. Today, China is faced with similar challenges to those that the EU had to address. China has been able to make reference, through the EUCTP, to the EU's progress in developing a safe food and feed regime."
During the last three months the EUCTP has implemented in the form of rapid response training, a series of five workshops designed to support the implementation of the new Chinese Food Safety Law, focusing on risk assessment and management and policy developments. Throughout the EUCTP life a total of over 20 training activities and internship programmes were directed at food safety and animal health issues.
The effect of global trade rules has also narrowed the gap and further reduced the differences between the EU and Chinese trade regimes and has highlighted the need for ever more compatible policies. This is true for both food and non-food products. Chinese exported food products need to meet European food safety and sanitary requirements and vice versa. The EUCTP helped to build China's awareness of the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which in turn supported the development of a similar Chinese-language platform.
Chinese exported consumer products, such as children's toys, must also meet stringent European safety requirements as manufacturers and exporters increasingly work within global supply chains. The EUCTP has implemented a series of high-level roundtables on consumer protection and product safety, all attended by EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva. These exchanges highlighted the importance of protection for all consumers in all market.
(China Daily 11/30/2009 page15)
