The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) promulgated the Food Market Quality Control System on 2 September 2009. Under this new rule, food dealers are prohibited from selling imported food without Chinese labels or bearing Chinese labels that do not comply with relevant requirements.

This move is necessary for the purpose of implementing the Food Safety Law promulgated not long ago, said an SAIC official in charge. Under the Food Safety Law and its implementation rules, pre-packed food and food additives may not be imported if they do not have Chinese labels and instructions or if the labels and instructions do not conform to the provisions of the law.

SAIC requires industry and commerce administration departments at all levels to tighten supervision over imported food in accordance with law, with particular attention to certificate of quality inspection, date of production, best before date and relevant import formalities.

In future, industry and commerce administration departments at county level or above shall supervise food dealers in their fulfillment of the duty of checking and inspecting the food purchased. Food dealers are to check and inspect the necessary documentation of the imported food, including commodity inspection certificates, according to food type and batch number, and keep copies of relevant proofs provided by suppliers for future inspection.

Industry and commerce administration departments at county level or above shall also tighten supervision and inspection of the quality of food in circulation, and check to see if the details indicated on the imported food labels comply with applicable laws and standards.