China's General administration of quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Standardization Administration on March 39 jointly promulgated the national standard for detecting Sudan I in foods, which entered into force on the day of promulgation.

The national standard stipulates the method to detect Sudan red series dyes, which is capable of detecting Sudan I in foods by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, said official with the Standardization Administration.

Following the UK Food Standard Agency's announcement to recall Sudan I contaminated foods in February 2005, the General administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China issued urgent notice requesting food producers to recall Sudan I contaminated foods, and imposed punishment on food producers using Sudan I. Meanwhile the Standardization Administration of China made research on the testing method by referring to foreign standards. After repeated comparison and practical application, the accuracy of the detecting method has been proven.

Sudan I, a kind of chemical synthesized colorant, is mainly used in products like wax, paint and gasoline. China bans the use of Sudan I in food production.

By People's Daily Online