A list of companies and individuals who have violated food-safety rules was recently released by the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, Xinhua, the official press agency of the People's Republic of China, reported. Citing a blacklist mechanism that took effect in March, the report stated enterprises on the list "will receive administrative punishment at the highest level and their executives will be banned from operating food businesses".
The Chinese regulator released the list amid food-safety concerns U.S. senators have raised over the $7.1 billion acquisition of Smithfield Foods, Inc. by Shuanghui International Holdings Limited.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been collaborating with the China Food and Drug Administration to improve the safety of imported foods and enhance China's regulatory regime.
According to Xinhua, earlier this year, the Beijing municipal government introduced a law to ensure food safety.
And in 2012, China released a 5-year plan to upgrade its food-safety regulations by revamping outdated standards, reviewing and abolishing any contradicting or overlapping standards and devising new regulations.
Food safety has been an Achilles heel for China. A report released early in 2012 revealed that roughly half of food inspections conducted in mainland China failed, although the majority didn't pass as a result of minor defects.
