Food Safety & Traceability in China

In recent years, China has aimed to overcome its reputation for being a hub for food safety violations, however, with the emergence of the e-commerce sector, compliance and enforcement will mean it may still continue to be an issue moving forward into the future. However, China has recently been at the forefront of technological advances in food traceability as new opportunities for international cooperation and legislative changes seek to alter the future of food safety in China.

In order to address food safety and traceability issues, along with the realities of the global market, China must finally crack down on domestic violators in the food industry and engage in international collaboration to improve best practices and restore the trust of Chinese consumers. With China’s rapid adoption of technology, such as blockchain and the Internet of things (IoT), it is reasonable to expect that in the future there will be a lower barrier to complying with food safety standards in China especially as the costs of adopting technology are reduced over time.

Finally, it is worth noting the role of the State Administration for Market Regulation, the country’s recently established super-regulator which acts as the chief overseer of China’s market, with a broad mandate to oversee food, drugs, consumer and industrial products, among other things. The functions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the China Food and Drug Administration are all incorporated into this new administration and will seek to further improve food safety issues in China moving forward.