China Determined to See "Made in China" Label a Source of Pride

At a national work week meeting in Beijing, China, on Friday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made clear to Chinese businesses his desire for them to improve their product quality and build on China's brands so that the reputation of the "Made in China" label remains secure.

This, of course, comes after what the Embassy for the People's Republic of China in the United States says involved 23,000 cases of "fake and low-quality" food. Specifically, the Embassy's July 27 news release states that from December 2006 to May 2007, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) found the problem food, which involved $26 million (U.S. dollars). As a result, some 180 food manufacturers were shut down by the Chinese government. The news release also states, however, that in the first half of 2007, more than 99 percent of the foods exported from China to Japan, the European Union and the United States were up to standards.

The AQSIQ is the Chinese government agency responsible for the supervision and administration of China's import and export commodity inspection. It involves standardization and certification of commodities coming into and going from China, in accordance with the laws and regulations of China, as well as the international community.

Wen told the business representatives that the Chinese government has always believed in the importance of quality products because, he said, "it has a direct bearing on people's immediate interests, the survival and development of firms and the national image. We understand good product quality is the most persuasive argument. We will not evade the problems, but oppose biased media reports, trade protectionism and discrimination."

Wen went on to say that only those businesses with high-quality products are going to be competitive and able to grow and increase what they have on the international market. Because food safety is a global issue, Wen was clear in his message that the country is "ready to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation and solve international divergence on the issue through dialogue, negotiations and investigations," said the new release.

The process, Wen told the meeting attendees, will involve China tightening product quality supervision by tightening market access for food manufacturers and developing a monitoring system that will oversee and closely watch plantations, breeding farms and production bases. He said China will also need to be sure to keep abreast of international standards, and all government agencies must be mobilized to promptly investigate and appropriately address all product quality violations. Wen said this will mean small manufacturers and those who produce health-related products will be especially targeted.

Li Changjiang is the director of the AQSIQ. He added that, in addition to addressing the issue within China, the government as also been working on food safety issues with its trade partners, including the United States, Japan and the European Union.

Source: News release, Chinese Premier calls on firms to secure reputation of "Made in China" label; http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t345561.htm