SCIO briefing on safeguarding China's food security and supply
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 6, 2023
Sannongfabu:
Food safety has always been a major concern to all. In recent years, cadmium-contaminated rice and fungi-contaminated wheat have attracted massive attention. I would like to ask, what measures will you take to safeguard food safety? Thank you.
Huang Wei:
The quality of grain is highly relevant to each household, remaining a major concern to all. Hereby, I would like to share an overall conclusion with you all. Our government has conducted risk monitoring work on grain quality during the process of purchasing and storing on a yearly basis since 2006. According to our information, the overall situation of China's grain quality remains good. Therefore, please rest assured that the overall situation is good in both the links of purchasing and storing. The concerns raised by the journalist are attributed to many other factors, such as soil and water pollution and climate change. The key is how we deal with it. Therefore, regarding this area of work, the government has attached great significance. In accordance with the "four strictest requirements": the strictest standards, the strictest supervision, the strictest punishment, and the strictest accountability, raised by General Secretary Xi Jinping, our work is mainly focused on monitoring and inspection. Once we find contaminated food of such kind, we will take measures in a timely and effective manner. Our only goal is to ensure that no contaminated food shall be allowed to enter the staple food market. This is our ultimate goal, as well as a "redline."
First, we will conduct monitoring work at an earlier stage, carrying out quality and food safety index monitoring during the process of purchasing. We have collected over 70,000 samples each year to timely grasp the quality and safety situation of newly acquired grain, actively understand the situation of contaminated grain in advance, and earn time to deal with those issues immediately.
Second, we will take strict measures to ensure quality inspection. Under the multi-tiered national-, provincial-, municipal-, and county-level inspection and monitoring systems for food quality and safety, we have expanded investment in inspection technology and equipment and comprehensively upgraded the functions of more than 1,500 food quality and safety inspection institutions and laboratories nationwide, adding 29,000 inspection parameters and 26,000 samples a month on average. We have created favorable conditions for the warehouse entry and exit of grain.
Third, we will resolutely adhere to the classification of treatment. In the process of purchasing, contaminated grain should be purchased at designated points, stored exclusively, and supervised throughout the whole process. It should not be allowed to mix with other grains in general circulation and should be managed in a closed loop. In the process of storing, we should take the purpose of use into consideration. For example, for the grains in industrial use, we should conduct regular or occasional sampling inspections on the quality of stored grain in order to accurately understand the quality of grain and resolutely ensure none of the substandard grains be allowed to enter the staple food market or food production enterprises.
Fourth, we will strengthen the responsibilities of local Party committees and governments. The responsibilities of Party committees and governments at all levels should be fully consolidated through the shared accountability system of the Party and government. Regarding the issue of food safety, China has established a synergistic mechanism among ministries and commissions and a systematic supervision system in government at all levels, in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Law. Relevant work has been included in the assessment of the shared accountability system of the Party and government, working as an important indicator. If there appears to be one problem, we will activate a one-vote-down system. Please rest assured that the government's attitude remains resolute in dealing with the issues of food safety. We will never allow any contaminated food to enter the staple food market or the tables of thousands of households. Thank you.
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