The 2019 China Customs Conference on Import-Export Food Safety was held in Beijing on February 28. Vice Minister Zhang Jiwen addressed the meeting, saying the overall situation of imported and exported food safety as the priority of GACC was stable and progressive in 2018.

Last year, China Custom took tough measures against import-export food safety risks. The GACC signed with 31 countries/regions 36 pieces of inspection and quarantine protocols, which stipulated access requirements on 55 kinds of food, as a measure to ensure the safety at source. With severe punishment on law breaking and incompliance, China Customs returned or destroyed 1,413 batches of substandard food or cosmetics from 64 countries/regions, suspended the registration of 17 enterprises, and canceled 1 enterprise registration.

Additionally, China Customs kept improving the business environment of ports. 7 ports were newly designated for inbound meat products, 8 inspection stations for inbound meat products and 1 port for chilled aquatic products. In 2018, the Customs tested 43,603 samples of food and cosmetic imports as well as 18,951 samples of such exports. Through dialogues and forums held with foreign partners, China’s influence was enhanced further on global food safety area.  

This year, China Customs will continue implementing the strictest safety regulations over import-and-export food. The GACC will work on strategic plans and top-level designs with integrated orientations to both problems and objectives; harmonize with advanced international standards and deliver reformative measures aiming for improved mechanism on food safety control; promote international co-governance on food safety for win-win results.