Shandong authorities are encouraging local pork wholesalers to reach more specific compensation agreements with live pig suppliers as part of efforts to improve food safety.

The pork market is the first to test a food quality program proposed by local authorities, Wang Longxing, director of the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, said yesterday during the annual session of the city's People's Congress.

Local companies can require live pig suppliers from other provinces to pass a quality examination before sending their products to the city, Wang said.

In the event substandard pork is found on the wholesale market, local wholesalers can ask for compensation from the suppliers, he said. The system can help the retail market avoid unsafe pork. Wang promises the city will improve spot-checks on food markets to ensure quality and safety. Nearly 70 percent of the city's food consumption depends on supply from other provinces and regions.

Shanghai on average consumes 1,000 tons of pork, 800 tons of milk, 800 tons of seafood and more than 6,000 tons of vegetables a day. The city was hit by a series of food safety crises last year. In May, the city's food authority warned clenbuterol, an illegal chemical used to feed pigs, was found in pork from other provinces.

Source:未知