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A call for food fines to grow
By Lu Feiran |
August 13, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LOCAL quality authorities called yesterday for stronger food-manufacturing laws, citing a particular need for larger fines imposed on big companies to make them feel the sting when they are punished for illegal production.
The Shanghai Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision recently inspected several food manufacturers and issued fines, but they were too small to really impact the companies, officials said.
For example, the popular Aming Food Co Ltd, a firm producing snacks, was found recently to have illegally used expired food. Workers used old honey-glazed walnut meat as material to make new snacks. The bureau sealed all the raw material and illegal products found in the firm's plant in Minhang District and fined the company 1.3 million yuan (US$203,468).
But the bureau said the fine, while the largest allowed under present law, was no big deal for the company.
"The problem is that food manufacturers have to spend high cost to keep honest, but take very low risk to be dishonest," said Shen Wei-ming, deputy director of the bureau.
Some small plants whose production certificate had been canceled were still working secretly. Recently a rice cake firm in Yangpu District was ordered to stop production, but when officials came for an inspection, they found that the plant still operating.
"This is not a single case as far as we are concerned," said Shen. "And we alone are not able to cover so many companies repeatedly, so we want the district government to help us with the re-inspection."
Officials said the Shanghai law should be stricter than the country's regulation.
The Shanghai Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision recently inspected several food manufacturers and issued fines, but they were too small to really impact the companies, officials said.
For example, the popular Aming Food Co Ltd, a firm producing snacks, was found recently to have illegally used expired food. Workers used old honey-glazed walnut meat as material to make new snacks. The bureau sealed all the raw material and illegal products found in the firm's plant in Minhang District and fined the company 1.3 million yuan (US$203,468).
But the bureau said the fine, while the largest allowed under present law, was no big deal for the company.
"The problem is that food manufacturers have to spend high cost to keep honest, but take very low risk to be dishonest," said Shen Wei-ming, deputy director of the bureau.
Some small plants whose production certificate had been canceled were still working secretly. Recently a rice cake firm in Yangpu District was ordered to stop production, but when officials came for an inspection, they found that the plant still operating.
"This is not a single case as far as we are concerned," said Shen. "And we alone are not able to cover so many companies repeatedly, so we want the district government to help us with the re-inspection."
Officials said the Shanghai law should be stricter than the country's regulation.
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