U.S., China set up food safety mechanisms

U.S., China set up food safety mechanisms The United States and China are making progress on cooperation on food and feed import safety, according to a joint update by both nations following economic talks in Annapolis, Md., last week.
   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine have set up designated points of contact, emergency contacts, thresholds for notification, enhanced information exchange and studied each other’s regulatory system to better react to health dangers in Chinese supplied food products.
   Last December, the two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to provide greater information and quality assurances to improve the safety of food traded between the two countries.
   Work is continuing on development of a system under which AQSIQ will electronically certify to FDA that specific products sent for export to the United States meet FDA standards for safety and manufacturing quality.
   The FDA has also agreed to train Chinese officials on U.S. regulatory standards and requirements.
   The governments have also agreed to share information to assist investigations of fraud or deception by food suppliers.