Top Official calls for new food safety laws

Summary: 

• A top health official has called for more integration within China’s fragmented food regulatory system yesterday to boost its troubled safety record.
• The military warned that unsafe food could undermine its combat-readiness.
• New laws were needed to strengthen food safety supervision by coordinating the duties of competing government agencies.
• The lack of a centrally controlled regulatory system is considered a key defect underpinning China’s perennial food and drug safety woes.
• Blurred lines of authority and divided responsibilities often enable the country’s countless illegal operations to escape detection.
• A specially developed food quality control system would be employed at 39 Olympic test events starting from Aug 8.
• Foods and drugs are special products, and manufacturers and sellers cannot only go after economic gain.
• Rising pork prices have also led to some farmers force-feeding their pigs with wastewater to increase their weight before slaughtered.

Personal Comments: 

o       This article is related to questions on “Governance and Politics”. For example, “what may a county’s citizens justly demand of their government?”

o       Related to questions on “health”. For example, “how far do you agree that our health is in our own hands?”

o       Possible questions:

- Food is serious business. Comment.

- Assess how effectively your country ensures the safety of her people.

 

§         Since food is one of the essential things we need for survival, this matter should not be taken lightly. Of course, the government ruling the country should have the largest role in improving and regulating the quality of the food her country produces or imports.

§         Define the lines of authority clearly and prevent divided responsibilities to prevent illegal operations from happening.

§         Food safety problems can have serious negative impact on the country.

-The number of tourists may decrease.

-The citizens of the country may live in fear over their health and safety of the food they consume everyday.  

         *Source: The Straits Times     Saturday, July 14, 2007

By Wei Bin 

 

The Other Side Of India’s Tech Boom

Source: Fortune magazine, July 23, 2007

Some useful information and how they can be used in essay:

• In New Delhi alone, about 10 000 people, some young children, dismantle old computers and other equipment–know as e-waste, searching for gold, copper, paladium or anything to turn to cash. (poverty)

• Recyclers expose themselves to toxic metals but it is a main source of income for them

• E-waste recycling is a booming business in India

• A study by Toxics Link, an advocacy group in New Delhi, found that metals from 183 defunct computers could yield as much as $24 000 (environment; recycling)

• India currently produces 150 000 tons of e-waste a year and illegally imports at least that amount from the West. (impact of improving technology)

• India currently has only 22 computers for every 1000 people but that number is projected to increase to 120 in the next five years (improvement in technology in LDCs)

• European firms that have come to India with plans to start recycling canters are also put off by the lack of regulation, said Ravi Agarwal, the director of Toxics Link.

• India has only 2 government-recognised e-waste recycling facilities, in Chennai and Bangalore. Together they recycle less than 1% of India’s total e-waste. (Environment)

by huiting

China awakens to need for safety and quality

Source: World News, The Straits Times, 14th July 2007

Summary :

Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of China’s State Food and Drug Administration, was executed this week after his conviction for accepting massive bribes in return for certifying the sale of shoddy goods and fake medicines. It was meant as a warning to other corrupt officials. The scandals about the quality of Chinese products have now reached worrying proportions, threatening not only the country’s image, but also its foreign trade.