No longer turn to the Health Bureau if a food-related problem occurs

The Food Safety Law stipulates that separate authorities should be established to supervise and manage food production, circulation and food and beverage service activities. Local food and drug supervisory authorities are responsible for food safety and supervision work in all food and beverage service activities, ranging from food and beverage services in hotels and cafeterias in primary and secondary schools and universities, to workplace cafeterias.

The law explicitly stipulates that food and drug supervisory authorities oversee food hygiene licensing and food safety supervision and management. It will oversee places of food consumption such as restaurants and cafeterias, as well as provide supervisory and management duties for health food and cosmetics, all of which were previously the responsibility of the Health Bureau.


Celebrity engagement in publicizing false food commercial advertisements will be punished

In recent years it has become common practice for celebrities and stars to publicize food and medical products. Businesses took advantage of consumers' mentality of "following the stars" and invited celebrities and stars to perform "false advertising" so as to mislead or even deceive consumers. The Food Safety Law stipulates that those who publicize "faulty food products" will share liability. Experts pointed out that joint liability can bring severe punishment, and the celebrities who publicize false commercial advertisement have to bear the same responsibility as food producers and sellers.

Setting up a recall system for "faulty food products"

Under the Food Safety Law, a recall system for unsafe food will be applied at both the production and operation level. If food producers discover their food products fail to meet safety standards, they must immediately stop production and recall products that have already been distributed for sale. They should notify relevant producers, operators and consumers, and take down recall and notification information. If sellers discover that the food products fail to meet safety standards, they must stop selling them immediately, and notify relevant producers, operators and consumers as well as record relevant information.

No food is exempt from inspection

In the eyes of consumers, a fair number of "faulty food products" were exempt from inspection. Sanlu milk powder was just such an example. The milk powder once enjoyed the advantage of an inspection-free product by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), but the facts have proved that it was not safe.

For this reason, the Food Safety Law stipulates that food safety supervisory and administrative authorities may not exempt any food product from inspection. The authorities must carry out random testing free of charge.

Consumers may receive compensation worth 10 times the price of the product

The Food Safety Law stipulates that in the case of either the production or intentional sale of food products which fail to meet food safety standards, consumers can not only ask for a refund but can also claim against producers or distributors for compensation equivalent to 10 times the price of the product. Experts noted that a key reason behind these endless food-related problems is the low cost involved in illegal activities. The newly-adopted Food Safety Law has therefore significantly raised compensation levels, particularly for consumer compensation.

Additives may not be "added" at will

The three instances of melamine-contaminated milk, pork containing clenobuterol hydrochloride and contaminated Sudan Red chili sauce have led many people to be concerned about food additives. However, experts have noted that food additives are a type of synthetic chemical or natural substance that can also improve the quality of food, extend its storage period, facilitate food processing and increase its nutritional value. Food additives therefore serve as a "double-edged sword," bringing people both benefits and potential harm.

According to the Food Safety Law provisions, food additives may not be used in food unless it is a necessity and has been proved to be safe and reliable. Other than food additives, other chemical substances that might harm human health are prohibited in food production. Thus, in accordance with this legal provision, adding any substance that is not included in the list of food additives for food production will be deemed illegal even if it is not harmful to the human body.

By People's Daily Online