The United States Food and Drug Administration will open three offices in China this week to help ensure export safety.

China is also preparing to start offices in the US.

The FDA will open an office in Beijing today, followed by one in Guangzhou and Shanghai, according to Mike Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services of the US.

Addressing a joint press conference with Leavitt in Beijing yesterday, Health Minister Chen Zhu said China was set to open offices in the US although no date, location or number was given.

"It shows the new trend of deepened cooperation on food safety between our two countries," Chen said.

He said the move would help inspection agencies and businesses of both countries.

Leavitt said: "We need to globalize the mission of the Food and Drug Administration because its task now is not domestic but international."

The United States will import about US$2 trillion worth of goods this year.

"The volume of those goods has become so robust that it requires us to change our strategy," Leavitt said. "We have to build quality into every product at every step."

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said yesterday it regretted the FDA move last Thursday to order dozens of imported milk items from China held at the border. Most are ethnic treats like snacks.

Qin Gang, a foreign ministry spokesman, said Chinese authorities strictly examined exported products.

"We hope the US side will take seriously China's major concerns because what they are doing now will impact on our trade," Qin said.

Under an FDA directive, inspectors at US ports of entry will detain foods from China made with milk and other dairy ingredients in the wake of the melamine scandal.

Importers must pay to have their products tested by an independent laboratory that meets FDA standards. Only products found to be melamine-free will be allowed into the US market.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2008)