China proposes tougher penalties in food safety law draft
The draft, published by the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office, stipulates liabilities for food producers as well as operators of online sales platforms for food safety violations.
According to the draft, a tighter reins should be kept on suppliers who have been convicted of food safety offences, and sales platforms should co-ordinate to immediately stop selling the offender’s goods.
The draft says China's food safety law and regulations should also be applied to imports and exports of food through e-commerce channels.
In cases when inedible substances are found, producers and business operators will be obliged to present proper evidence or they will be held liable for food additive violations.
Officials, the industry and the public have been given until November 19 to comment on the draft regulations.
