China's food inspection practices equal to those of developed countries

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China's food additive inspection system is administered in accordance with international standards and is equal to those used in developed countries, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday.

China's system allows it to inspect 2,314 types of food additives, which are all subject to safety limits stipulated in the country's laws, said a statement published on the MOH's website.

Inspections of food additives allow inspectors to check on both the quality and quantity of the food additives being used, the statement said.

However, no mandatory inspection measures are stipulated for additives that are extracted from natural plants and have little safety risk, the statement said.

This practice is also in accordance with the standards of relevant international organizations and developed countries, the statement said.

The MOH revised national standards regarding content limits for food additives in May, and the ministry is now working to improve national standards regarding the quality of the additives, the statement said.