Quality chief: China´s food is safe

China's top official for quality control says food made in the country is now even safer than before and should be able to pass the strictest of quality checks. Li Changjiang is urging consumers to make their own judgments based on their own experience.

Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) answers questions during a press conference at the news center for the First Session of the the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2008.  (Xinhua/Liu Quanlong)

At a press conference on the sidelines of this year's NPC and CPPCC sessions, the head of the quality watchdog, says the Chinese government has always attached great importance to product quality and food safety. Li Changjiang stressed that in a recent nationwide inspection of food across 23 categories, the pass rate was well above international standards.

Li Changjiang, Chief of AQSIQ said "These rates prove that Chinese food has become safer, and can pass strict quality checks."

Li also referred to the recent "dumpling poisoning" case involving China and Japan. He says both sides believe this is a one-off case of sabotage. But Li has added that investigation continues, and that closer cooperation between Chinese and Japanese police is needed before they can get to the bottom of the matter.

Li Changjiang said "The Japanese people don't have to worry about the safety of food imports from China. From 2004 to 2007, China's food exports to Japan scored extremely well in quality rates at 99.4, 99.56, 99.42 and 99.81 percent respectively. Some media reports have failed to report in an objective manner, fueling public worries in Japan. I hope the Japanese people will make their judgments based on their own experience, and not let inaccurate media reports affect their decisions."

According to the quality watchdog, China is now an important food exporter to Japan, supplying half the amount of frozen food in the country, and almost 60 percent of vegetable imports.