Beijing launches new platform to trace imported cold-chain products

Starting from Sunday, all producers and marketers of imported frozen meat and aquatic products in Beijing are required to upload sources, distribution points and other data of those products to an online platform, in order to strengthen the supervision of imported cold-chain foods amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the municipal administration for market regulation and the municipal commerce bureau, the involved companies are required to register on the platform.

All the imported cold-chain products in the market should be labeled with corresponding tracing codes generated by the platform.

Customers can use WeChat or Alipay mini-programs on their phones to scan the tracing codes on product packages or freezers in markets, obtain the quality safety information and trace data for the imported frozen meat and aquatic products they are about to buy.

Food companies should not purchase, sell or process products without archiving tracing data on the platform, said the authority.

Relevant government departments in Beijing will step up supervision and inspection work. The ones that fail to upload the information will be asked to take down their products from the shelves.