A legislative proposal from the municipal government in Shanghai, China is targeting what it terms a “pandemic” of false accreditation reports affecting the local food and seafood sector.
A bill to be considered at the upcoming annual session of the city’s People’s Committee (or parliament) recommends a year-long ban and a credit-rating “blacklist” for certification companies found to have falsely certified or stamped seafood or other edibles.
Certifications have become important marketing tools in China’s ultra-competitive market place with numerous marks and logos suggesting food safety and ecology in various regions of the country. However, the certification process has battled corruption, with firms illegally paying for certifications.
The Shanghai government’s bill lists three particular offenders: seafood and vegetable producers understating the number and amount of antibiotics in their produce; fake pearls being certified as genuine; and air quality being reported inaccurately by authorities.
