China will introduce an overall quality authentication system in food industry, with the brewery industry to be the first sector subject to quality authentication, according to Wang Yancai, president of China Brewery Industry Association.

Speaking at a meeting to issue quality certificates to the first group of breweries held recently in Beijing, Wang pointed out that unhealthy factors exist in the current brewery industry.

On the one hand, fake wine cases have caused panic among customers, leading to the decline in the wine market. On the other hand, some breweries are blindly pursuing market share at the expense of quality.

According to Wang, the quality authentication activity aims at promoting the development of the brewery industry.

The quality authentication will standardize the quality and hygienic inspection and control in the production process of breweries, and protect the brands of renowned breweries and prevent vicious competition so as to create better market climate.

It is reported that China's beer output and sales volume rank the first in the world. The wine and yellow wine market has registered an annual growth of more than 10 per cent in recent years.

In the first 11 months of 2005, the total wine production of Chinese enterprises with yearly sales exceeding 5 million yuan reached 38 million kilolitres, up 10 percent year on year; and their profits reached 12 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion), up 31 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2006)