Importers of Chinese products are expected to feel more confident when placing orders from China next year, as the country has vowed to further intensify its production quality control standards.
It will also fully implement compulsory certification in the New Year, Minister of the State Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine, Li Changjiang, said yesterday at a national meeting in Beijing.
Li said the country's quality control workflow will be so improved that no stone will be left unturned when it comes to supervising every step of production, transportation and sales, and quarantining imports and exports.
All efforts guarantee that products failing to meet due standards will never find their way out of China, he said.
In 2003, China will also strengthen safety management and registration examinations for food and farm produce exports.
Li said his agency will tighten its controls over pesticide and veterinary drug residue, and put vets and plant protection technicians in businesses where they can help ensure the quality.
China suffered heavy losses when the European Union (EU) suspended imports of its poultry meat, frozen shrimp and other products on January 31, based on allegations that they contained harmful antibiotic residue.
But thanks to substantial achievements China has scored in improving the quality of export-oriented agricultural products and enhanced exchanges between the two sides, the EU and other countries have so far eased most of their restrictions on local products, the minister said.
He said China will fully implement a new compulsory product certification system in 2003 to fulfill its commitments made when the country joined the World Trade Organization.
From May, China began to issue certificates to enterprises that produced certain new products.
The 132 products -- including electrical tools, household electrical appliances and audio and video equipment -- are closely related to the health and safety of consumers and animals, the environment and national security.
From May 1 next year, any of the products that do not have the China Compulsory Certification mark will not be allowed to be exported from or imported into China, according to sources with the China National Regulatory Commission for Certification and Accreditation.
(China Daily December 26, 2002)
