Rules demand traceability from Shanghai food businesses

Shanghai food businesses must be able to trace where raw materials and products come from or face fines of up to 50,000 yuan ($8,050), the city government said yesterday.

Food processing companies, meat packing plants, wholesalers, grocery markets, supermarkets, school canteens and restaurants will have to establish traceability systems.

This regulation is part of city efforts to ensure food safety from farm to dining table.

Food businesses must keep track of product histories while market managers are expected to oversee stall owners to achieve this.

Among the first batch of foods included in the regulation are grain, meat products, vegetables, dairy produce, cooking oil and wine.

The city and district governments, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration and agricultural and wine management authorities will oversee the system, said officials.

Traceability systems common in the US food industry can effectively monitor the whole food supply chain which is key to the food safety, said Wang Tie, senior vice president and general manager with the US-based Ecolab Inc, a global food safety solutions company that is working with the city government.