Chinese lawmakers fret about food safety

Food safety has become a major issue of concern for Chinese lawmakers, as 19 motions and 78 suggestions were proposed to improve food quality during the annual session of China's top legislature this March.

An official with the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's top legislature, said nearly a third of the 3,000 NPC deputies signed the motions and suggestions.

China's food safety watchdog announced in November 2006 that it had nabbed seven companies that were producing salted red-yolk eggs contaminated with dangerous red Sudan dyes.

Sudan dyes are used legally in the leather and fabric industries, but are banned for food use.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that in the fourth quarter of 2005 alone, China reported 54 serious food poisoning cases, with 1,897 people becoming sick and 39 dieing.

The official said the NPC has amendments to the Food Hygiene Law on this year's legislative agenda.

Experts predict that more detailed provisions are likely to be added this year to strengthen supervision of the production and circulation of food, and prevent substandard food from entering the market.

An official from the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council said his department will finish drafting the amendments to the Food Safety Law soon. Enditem

Source:Xinhua