Vendors of seafood in wet markets and retail outlets are the targets of a new initiative by the government body charged with enforcing the country’s food safety law. Anyone selling seafood must register (with market management) and display their social security number and/or ID card, according to a circular titled ‘Regarding Edible Foods Market Sales Quality Safety Supervision’ issued by the CFDA.
Supermarkets meanwhile will have to set up a food safety record system with records of the date and source of seafood supply. Intriguingly, there’s a “list of bad suppliers” which should detail instances of bad food safety practises by suppliers. The idea being that such a list can be checked by CFDA officials and maintained in a national database.
Food safety has become a priority for China but enforcement has been difficult with confusion and competition among various government agencies at a regional level.
