Advice for food importers from China

Domestic contamination
scandals in China over
recent years, have placed
renewed government
focus on improving food
safety standards.
But while China has
recently introduced a food
safety act, traditionally
quality management
systems, food standards
and hygiene levels have
often fallen short of
required standards.
According to risk
manager and insurance
broker Aon, for companies
doing business with
Chinese food suppliers,
whether they are foreign
or Chinese themselves,
it is vital that supplied
produce undergoes a
strict quality management
process and that firms not
only agree to food safety
standards but monitor
their implementation.
It’s also vital to establish a
recall plan in case a recall
does have to be instituted
and consider taking out
an insurance programme
for the risk of product
contamination.