The participation of consumers and other stakeholders in food safety activities in China

Nutrition Division

The participation of consumers and other stakeholders in food safety activities in China

Country Paper proposed by China

Year of publication 2002

Author Nutrition Division

Product type Meeting

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) The Chinese government has fully realized that to enable the consumers, food industry and other stakeholders to learn about the current situation of food safety and to participate in food safety control activities is an efficient way of strengthening national food safety control system and improving the confidence of consumers to food safety. Based on this understanding, the Chinese government has adopted various measures and ways to promote the participation of all stakeholders, especially the consumers. These may include: participation of food industry associations and representatives in food standard and regulation drafting; paying high attention by governmental agencies at different levels to the complaints from consumers and to communications with industry on the complaints; release and dissemination of food safety information through different ways; implementing education program called "Food Hygiene Law Education Week" every year since 1996; and setting up close cooperation with the consumer organization. However, we are also aware of the challenges we are facing and the problems we have. The participation of Chinese consumers in food safety control is still relatively not adequate, especially consumers in the rural areas. Most of the food industries in China are small and middle size business; there is a need to explore better ways to communicate with those small and middle size food industries. China is a big and diversified country, with significant difference s in economic development, education levels, culture background and dietary habits among different regions. There is a need to find more efficient ways in participation and risk communication.

Meeting symbol GF CRD China-4

Language English

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