The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will open three offices in China this week to ensure the safety of exports headed to the US, AP reported. These will be the first FDA offices outside the US. The first will open in Beijing on Wednesday, followed by one in Guangzhou and another in Shanghai. Mike Leavitt, US health and human services secretary, said the FDA presence in China will enhance the speed and effectiveness of efforts to protect consumers in the US and China. Safety issues involving the blood thinner heparin, food and other products imported from China have put pressure on the FDA to establish an international presence. Last year, US-based Mattel recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys worldwide.

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China is running scared after the recent Gyoza food poisoning and other food safety issues. This is even of greater importance now as we approach the 2008 Olympics in August of this year. China is desperately trying to control the situation as can be witnessed with two recent documents from China.

Recent Notice From Tianyuan Foods In China

First half of letter is in Chinese followed by the English translation.

Announcement To Strengthen Inspection Of Export Foods

Technorati Tags: Noon International, China, food, gyoza

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The China CIQ from the Rizhao district in Shandong province has taken independent action to prohibit all exports until they conduct an audit of all facilities in their geographic region. This is part of a fall out from the Japan methamidophos contaminated Gyoza problem that erupted a couple of weeks ago. It is said it will take 1 month for the Rizhao CIQ branch to audit all the facilities and weed out the facilities that are not qualified for exports of frozen vegetables. The Rizhao CIQ is taking protective action because if a problem does occur for exported product they will be the culprits since they certify product for export.

In Zhejiang province the CIQ has banned exports of frozen prepared food to Japan. They have also changed their policy for export of frozen vegetables to other countries. Now the exporting facility must notify Zhejiang CIQ when the product is packed and ready to export, at this time the CIQ will draw samples and either give their blessing or not for export. Some items such as mushrooms and asparagus from Zhejiang the CIQ will not allow to export at all. Broccoli and cauliflower are okay to export to USA but the product is short so it really doesn’t mean too much.

Each Provincial, regional or district CIQ office is independent and has the ability to make their own rules. As we see in Rizhao the policy is to perform audits, Zhejiang has their own restrictive measures in place. The CIQ feels the best way to prevent problems is not to ship. If no product is exported there is no possibility of repercussions.

Rumor has it that the current trend of prohibiting or curtailing exports will continue until President Hu visits Japan in April. This will probably apply more to Japanese exports but we could see the same happening for other countries such as US, Australia and Europe.

The question is how long this will last and will their be payoff to get your product approved by the CIQ for export?

Technorati Tags: Noon International, CIQ

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Broccoli

North areas – Shandong Province
Harvest so poor we can consider this as no harvest, nothing to offer.

Middle Eastern China – Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province

Peak season for frozen will start in about 15 days.  Growers planted more this year than last but lost a lot during the typhoon in November (krosa), consequently supply will be about the same as last year.  Currently what is available today is costing about 3.00RMB (Renminbi) per kilo versus the normal 1.00 – 1.20RMB per kilo.  We predict the average price for this year will be around 2.00 – 2.20 per kilo.

South China – Fujian and Guangdong Province
The season will not start until late January 2008. So far the growing conditions are normal.  At present we don’t have any price indication but we feel broccoli will definitely be higher than last year.

Overall the total harvest from China will be 20-30% short (or lower than last year).  Prices will be higher due to shortage, raw material cost, labor and energy cost.

Cauliflower

North areas – Shandong Province
Harvest is so poor we can say no harvest or no quantity to offer.

Middle Eastern China – Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province
The total harvest will be about 40-50% short (or less than last years crop).  The season will start in about 20 days.  So far the weather and growing conditions appear to be normal for the month  of December.  The average raw material cost last year was 0.80 – 0.90 RMB per kilo.  We are predicting that this year the average raw material prices will be around 1.80 – 2.00RMB per kilo. 

South China – Fujian and Guangdong Province
Planting area is the same as last year.  So far the growing conditions are normal with the season starting late January 2008.  We predict the harvest will be the same as last year with the only question being at what price.

Of particular note is the white color of the cauliflower.  The best color is in the North, followed by the Middle Eastern areas and lastly in the South where it may have a little yellowish tinge.

Again the overall harvest for China will be short and prices will be higher this coming year for the same reasons as broccoli.
 
Of particular note is the Japanese.  They are large users of the broccoli and cauliflower from China as well as from other parts of the world.  With Mexico having problems and China having problems it is likely that we may see the Japanese bid up the price of broccoli and cauliflower to secure the quantities needed.

For those interested in frozen broccoli or cauliflower from China now is the time to act to secure quantities needed.

 

Technorati Tags:  Noon International, China, broccoli, cauliflower

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The latest new regulation from the CIQ in Zhangzhou, Fujian applies to the inspection procedures as follows:

1. Inspection by the CIQ can be done only after all the products are packed  in their export cases.
2. The factory must perform all the microbiological and pesticide testing before the CIQ inspection.
3. The factory can only apply for the CIQ inspection only after all testing documentation is completed.
4. Then the CIQ inspectors will sample and test microbiological and pesticide residue analysis of the final products.
5. CIQ will sign export documentation after all test from CIQ are sampled and approved.

The new regulations implemented will have an impact on exports and will delay shipments even further.  Instead of 14 days we are now looking at about 25 days minimum between receipt of an order and shipment.

Buyers and shippers must now plan for shipments further out.  JIT is no longer possible because of the delays getting CIQ approval and documentation. 

Technorati Tags: Noon International, CIQ, China

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Frozen vegetables are probably the safest food we can eat from a Food Safety point of view.  When we deal with a China supplier we ensure that they have HACCP in place and have been certified by their government authority.  In addition many of the suppliers have ISO9001:2000 as well as the HACCP.  Many of our customers also require that the factory have a 3rd party audit such as BRC, AIB, SGS, SAFE or one of the other auditing agencies.  In addition each shipment is accompanied by a Certificate Of Analysis (COA), microbiological testing for Standard Plate Count, E. Coli, Coliform just to name a few. 

The same is true if we are exporting food to Japan, China, Australia.  Our frozen vegetables shipments are all accompanied with the COA.

The problem may arise when a price buyer imports or exports product from a marginal factory, with out doing due diligence, and then their is the potential for problems.  When this happens it makes the country or industry look bad as we are now witnessing from the “Made in China” syndrome. 

In the end all food has some risk factor and we all should share in the responsibility to educate food safety.  In frozen vegetables with the care taken to blanch the vegetables, which kill the bacteria, we have minimal risk compared to other segments of the food chain.

The key of course is to know you supplier, regardless of country, and ensure that they are following the proper procedures to provide as close as possible to a risk free vegetable to the consumer. 

Technorati Tags: Noon International, food safety, vegetables, import, export, China

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I have just read a great book “The Dip” by Seth Godin which is about being remarkable and teaching you when to quit.  In the book he talks about three potential outcomes, The Dip were real success comes from, Cul-De-Sac – working towards a dead end (nothing changes), and the Cliff were the whole business falls apart.  I am sure Seth Godin doesn’t need another plug but get the book, it’s worth the read.

Why do I mention the book?  Because I had a dream that we in the frozen food industry were headed for the Cliff.  Let me explain using the 3 outcomes:

Is the Dip a possible outcome?  Are we at the point where we are about to throw in the towel before the market takes off?  There are many food products from around the world that we in the frozen food industry could introduce to the consumer.  How many people have even heard of a mangosteen, the Queen of Fruits?  Many of these exotics could be introduce but it is hard and takes time.  Corporate America wants profits today they don’t want to count on maybe.

Is the Cul-De-Sac where we are today?  The frozen food industry has been stagnant and by that I mean the shelf space hasn’t grown in years.  All we do is take old products and wrap them up to try and reinvent ourselves.  We take a single vegetable and mix with multiple vegetables and come up with a new item. Or we add protein or a new sauce and sadly try to duplicate  ” Asian Fusion”. But the unfortunate part is that we are just playing musical chairs because the freezer shelf space is not growing.

Are we headed for the Cliff?  In the food chain the frozen food industry is the most enviornmentally unfriendly in terms of energy and pollutants.  It takes tons of energy to freeze, it takes more to hold product in cold storage, and more for transportation especially for the import and export business where containers are moved thousands of miles from continent to continent.  Everyday we pick up the paper and read about eating local.  We read books, like Jane Goodall’s “Harvest For Hope: A Guide To Mindful Eating“, which talks about the food industry and how it is force feeding the consumer with unhealthy products and  that it is time for change.

All this makes me wonder (and wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares), are we just at the tipping point of eating local ly supplied foods and  is the frozen food industry  about to walk off the cliff? or are we at the dip where innovation is about to launch us into a new era? or are we on the train to nowhere, cul-de-sac next stop please?

My hope of course is we are just in the dip and I continue to dream about all the healthy and wonderful aspects of frozen veggies and fruits, but is it enough?

Technorati Tags: Frozen Food, Seth Godin, The Dip, Jane Goodall, import, export, mangosteen

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(A Brief Translation of his Speech)

In addition of “ China’s Food Quality and Safety” published by Information Office of the State Council, I would like to add the following suggestions.

A.  CFQS is the must followed principle Our country established law and regulation in different areas:
Product quality and safety
Food sanitary law
Agricultural products/production safety law
Products Quality and standard law
Medicine management law
Importer / Exporter and their goods inspection law

There are total 11 laws.

There are also 22 other regulations for production permits, cosmetic, medical equipment management, industry production and products, etc.

These laws and regulations are the protections for people’s safety and health. They also provided the clearly defined responsibilities of  producers, enterprises, corporations and any individual who engages in these business. They provided the guide lines to punish the violated parties.

I think the problems we are facing right now are caused by these laws were not carried out correctly. The violators were not punished properly. Some of the management and inspection control department are not working properly.

1.To clarify, emphases and supplementing the current regulations and laws
2.To clarify the legal responsibilities of  producers, enterprises and management with quality control personals. To increase the punishment to the violators of these laws and regulations.
3.To give power to the people who are in charge of inspection, quality control and law/regulation reinforce department to check, stop any violations.
4.To prevent the problems to happen. Strictly to check the whole production process, distribution process. To start from raw materials, farm fields, food addictives, animal feed, etc.

CFQS main ideas:

1. Punishment in 6 areas:
a). Everyone should follow the law and regulations. The punishment for violators are:
For the producers and traders who are the violators
To confiscate the products which violated the quality and safety law and regulations.
To confiscate the income and profits which are from selling of the unlawful products
To confiscate the equipment, tools, raw materials
If there are any serious consequences caused by the producer or their products, they will be fined severely and revoke their business licenses

b). The same punishment are for anyone who uses unsafe and poor quality of  raw materials, addictives, animal feed.

c). To establish purchasing inspection procedures. To record, to check the suppliers’ qualifications and products quality certifications. The sales department should have products records to record products names, specifications, quantities, suppliers names, purchasing time, etc. to provide  products testing reports. If the products have no testing report, we should forbid to sell this product. Any violations will have the same punishments as we listed above.

d). To establish recall system to reinforce the quality and safety control.
To recall any product which violate the quality and safety regulations and law to ensure to protect people’s lives and health.
To publicly announce the harmful products, to volunteer recall the products immediately. Anyone who violates the laws and regulations will have  the same punishment.

e). To establish the record system to record any violations. To record every department:  Agriculture department, Senitary department, pharmaceutical, etc

f). To bring violators to the justice. To take them to the court.

2.To give local government and supervisory committee more power to check, stop and punish any violations.

a). if the local government and supervisory committee workers who does not carry on their duty and allowed the violations to happen without punishment, the person will be punished, or fired.

b). If the government official and supervisory committee members do not do their job and let the violators get away, they will be punished as well.

c) To strengthening the communication between different government departments to prevent the problems to fall through the cracks and anyone uses that as the excuses to avoid taking their responsibilities.

d). Each named government agencies have the power to enter the production area to check, inspect, investigate, confiscate, close the violated production facilities, equipment, invoices, and accounting records.

3.Strengthening management and supervision on import/export business

a)Testing records. To record the import/export history ( 2 years at least)

b)To sort out import products in different category and keep the records

c)To put the violators on the black lists.

d)To bring the violators to the law. Anyone who falsifies documents will be bring to justice, to be fined, to revoke business licenses and keep on the records.

e)In order to protect “ Made in China” reputation, we will reinforce the following 4 areas:

The responsibility of suppliers and exporters for the safety of the products
The responsibility of inspectors for export goods
To establish records for all suppliers and exporters. The customs and quality control agencies keep records on every import/export products and announce the violators records to the public.
The customs and boarder control agencies have the power to confiscate anything violated Chinese Laws and Regulations.

How to carry on CFQS:
1. To study it
2. To use media to educate the mass
3. To carry on CFQS from different levels of government agencies to protect people’s health and safety.

 Translated by PaiPai Stoltenberg

Technorati Tags: Noon International, CFQS, China Food Quality and Safety

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 Another side of the problem is that because of the pressure from all the foreign countries on quality issues the China government is setting up new regulations daily which is driving all the CIQ staff crazy.  Factories maybe shut down for months if the product is rejected by any foreign country, but it might be restricted from exporting only to that country while still being able to export to other countries.  Everything is still unclear and it may change from region to region as the CIQ implement their own rules.  Some of the CIQ’s staff are trying to make it very difficult for exporting factories because if they have a rejection it not only hurts the factory but also the CIQ staff will be punished with no chance of promotion.  Hence the CIQ would prefer not to have any exports to eliminate their own risk of being punished.

With each province and local CIQ implementing their own regulations, it reminds me very much  of a book I just read, “Will The Boat Sink The Water? The Life Of China’s Peasants” by Chen Guidi and Wu Chuntao.  The book tells several stories about the peasants problmes with the local government and how the local and provincial government dictated their own tax laws that were contrary to the central China government.  It relates sevearl stories and very interesting to read and get a better handle of the  inner workings.  The book was originally published in China but later banned.   Is their a correlation?

 

Technorati Tags: Noon International, China CIQ, CIQ, pesticide, imports, exports

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In the U.S. we have the USDA logo or bug that certifies meats, chickens etc.  What value does it have to me as a Chinese consumer? Not much.  Or what value does it have for me as a Japanese consumer?  Not much.

Logos of quality assurance are many, but what value does it have for me, the consumer?  Not much. 

How often do we pick up the newspaper or hear on TV about product that is tainted, that has a Logo for quality inspection? It is almost a daily occurance, mad cow, bird flu, e. coli and so on.  Us Beef is banned off and on in Korea, China or Japan or some other country because of BSE (Mad Cow), or lack of specific testing that is required in that country.

So why is China so keen on their CIQ logo??  What extra value or benefit will it give me,  the consumer?  Not much.  Will it create more nutrition?  Will it help my diabetes?  What will it do for my good health?  Not much.

Will I feel better about China food imports now that it has a CIQ Logo?  Will I eat more food from China with the CIQ Logo?  Will it really be safer?

Is a 3rd party audit a safer bet?

A lot of questions that only the consumer can answer because she/he is the ultimate decision maker.

Technorati Tags:  Noon International, China CIQ, BSE,  mad cow, bird flu, CIQ Logo

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