China AQSIA Released the Inspection Results of Food Related Products in 2017 - Regulatory News - Food & Food Contact Materials

On December 27, 2017, AQSIQ released the inspection results of food related products in 2017. A total of 2507 batches of products were inspected. They are plastic food related products, food contact paper and cardboard materials and articles, and food machinery. The product qualification rate is 96.6%. Small enterprises are easy to be inspected, accounting for 75.9% of all the inspected enterprises, the inspected products are mainly plastic food related products, accounting for 60.1%.

1. Basic Information

In 2017, a total of 2507 batches of products (excluding products for exportation) from 2370 enterprises are inspected. The product qualification rate is 96.6%, the disqualification rate was 3.4%

The scale distribution of enterprises is shown in Figure 1, large enterprises: medium-sized enterprises: small enterprises = 1: 7.1: 25.3. The inspected enterprises are mainly small enterprises.

China,AQSIQ,Food,Contact,Materials,Products,Inspection

Figure 1. Scale Distribution of Enterprises

The batch quantity distribution of products is shown in Figure 2, food machinery: food contact paper and cardboard materials and articles: plastic food related products = 1: 12.3: 20.1. The inspected products are mainly plastic food related products.

China,AQSIQ,Food,Contact,Materials,Products,Inspection

Figure 2. Batch Quantity Distribution of Products

2. Inspection Results

The qualification rate of plastic food related products is the highest, up to 99.5%, while food machinery is the lowest, the qualification rate is only 46.7%, less than a half. The main inspected enterprises of each type are small enterprises, the unqualified products are mainly from small enterprises as well.

Product Type	Product Category	Disqualification Rate	Unqualified Items	Scale Distribution and Disqualification Rate Distribution
Plastic food related products	Food cooking film, bags, boxes, melamine tableware	0.5%	2 items: Barrier properties (oxygen), pollution resistance	Large enterprises: medium-sized enterprises: small enterprises = 1:10.3:29.4, the corresponding disqualification rate is 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.8%
Food contact paper and cardboard materials and articles	Food packaging paper, food packaging cardboard, paper bags, paper cans, paper cups, paper tableware, paper boxes, etc. 12 species	4.1%	5 items: Sensory indexes, leakage properties (oil), cup stiffness, leakage properties (water), fluorescent substances	Large enterprises: medium-sized enterprises: small enterprises = 1:5:29, the corresponding disqualification rate is 0.0%, 0.7%, 4.9%
Food machinery	Slicer, Dough maker	53.3%	11 items: Aluminum physical and chemical index – Cadmium, power connections and external soft wire, structure, grounding measures, stability and mechanical hazards, abnormal work, safety and hygiene of equipment structure, internal wiring, protection for touching live parts, wiring terminals for external wires, screws and connections	Large enterprises: medium-sized enterprises: small enterprises = 1:1.1:3.7, the corresponding disqualification rate is 29.4%, 53.8%, 62.2%

3. Inspection Characteristics

I. Tracking the licensed products. In 2017, AQSIQ conducted spot checks on the licensed products that used to have more problems and tracked the unqualified enterprises.

II. The selection of technical agencies was carried out. By randomly selecting technical agencies according to the process, randomly selecting enterprises to be inspected, the scientificity of the inspection is enhanced.

III. The inspection scope of products was expanded. Besides the licensed products, food machinery was inspected as well this year.

IV. Focus on testing the physical and chemical indexes. In addition to some basic properties indexes, AQSIQ also focused on testing the physical and chemical indexes that may affect food safety, which can directly reflect the harm that the product may cause to the food.

Reference:

AQSIQ Notification

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