China targets food safety in face of summer heat, flooding

Central authorities in China have urged local governments to enhance food safety oversight during summer, calling for stricter inspections and tougher enforcement to reduce risks associated with high temperatures and flooding.

A notice issued by the State Council's food safety office urged local authorities to coordinate efforts to safeguard food safety during a period when heat, humidity and flooding can increase the risk of food spoilage, contamination and foodborne illnesses.

The notice requires local authorities to ensure food producers and distributors fulfill their primary responsibility for food safety by intensifying inspections of raw materials, production environments and storage conditions.

Businesses are required to promptly remove and dispose of spoiled or contaminated raw materials, as well as semi-finished and finished products.

Food businesses resuming operations after flood-related disruptions should conduct comprehensive inspections to ensure production meets food safety requirements before reopening, according to the notice.

Regulators were also asked to carry out routine inspections in key locations, including tourist attractions, farmers' markets and temporary resettlement sites for disaster victims.

Authorities will focus inspections on staple grain products, vegetables, meat and aquatic products, while increasing oversight of food transported, donated or sold to disaster-hit areas, as well as food produced by businesses operating in those regions.

Local authorities were also told to increase monitoring of drinking water quality and foodborne diseases to identify and mitigate potential health risks, the notice said.

The office called for stricter enforcement of measures against the production and sale of food that fails to meet safety standards, including expired or spoiled products.

Timely food safety advisories should be issued to help residents in disaster-affected areas improve awareness and protect themselves from health risks.

In addition, authorities were encouraged to strengthen monitoring of food safety-related public opinion, improve risk assessment and respond promptly to food safety incidents.