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This page contains all entries posted to PN China Blog - English in July 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.
August 2007 is the next archive.
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July 2007 Archives
July 30, 2007
Alarm on food packaging
Right when the Chinese exporters try to rid the low quality reputation in developed nations, the recent string of product disasters are causing scares among the consumers in the United States. The blacklist seems to be expanding: toxic pet food, toothpaste, seafood, toys, defective tires and exploding cell phone batteries.
Here comes another warning thats directly involving plastics: disposable tableware.
Chinese-language newspaper the Information Times reported from Guangzhou: Chinas quality regulator, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), said nearly half of the disposable tableware products checked in a national survey were found to be substandard. Problems are especially pronounced with disposable plastic food container, dishes and trays used by the fast food industry.These products may cause acute or chronic poisoning.The report said the problematic products contain recycled plastics and certain chemical additives, which will release toxic substancewhen combined with high heat or high levels of fat in foods like meat.The most worrisome fact, as I see it, is the manufacturers indifference to and neglect of the government regulations.According to the same story, AQSIQ launched September 1, 2006 a market admittance system for food-grade plastic packaging, containers and tools. It implied very few manufacturers have since obtained the certificate. So the government agency is trying to give the industry a push by announcing to start the enforcement at the end of August, when uncertified producers will be required to pass quality inspection before resuming sales. This hard-core approach still hasnt raised enough attention. The Information Times said:
As of June 18, only one out of the 77 manufacturers of plastic food packaging in Guangzhou has the certificate. Eleven producers have passed the on-site inspection......It takes 60 business days for AQSIQ to complete the process of approving a certificate. There are some 3,700 manufacturers that make plastic food packaging in China and nearly a third of them employ less than 10, according to the AQSIQ.I couldnt find how many of these manufacturers sell in China only and how many export. But I truly hope the kudos I gave to the Chinese exporters at this years International Housewares Show prove worthwhile.