Key Policies, Practices and Standards for
Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables
Beijing, December 2004
Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação
Agenda
 1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable Processing Sector.
 2. Administration System of Chinese Agro-Food Processing of Fruit and Vegetables.
 3. Legislative Regulations of Chinese Agro-Food Processing of Fruit and Vegetables.
 4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and Vegetables: Regulating Standards.
 5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-Food Processing of Fruit and Vegetables.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Development History
 From 1949 to 1979, fruit juice products were very limited in the
Chinese market.
 In the 1980s, the reform and open policy gave farmers the
freedom of choosing the crops and plants they wanted
to cultivate. In 1989, the output of fruit juice reached 100 thousand tons.
 After 1990, the industry achieved rapid development. In 2003, the output of fruit
was more than 70 million tons. 450 million tons of vegetable were produced. The
output of the fruit and vegetable juice reached 3.1 million tons.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Development History (cont.)
China’s Vegetable Planting Area and Output: 1996-2003
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Development History (cont.)
China’s Fruit Output: 1990-2003
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Current Situation
 Most of the Chinese fruit and vegetable manufacturers started their business
in the 1990s.
 More than 60% of manufacturers’ equipments are integrated with the
internationally prevalent technology of the 1990s, e.g. enzyme application, ultra
filtration, activated carbon absorption, recovery of natural fruit aromas, etc..
 Many process companies own their own material
orchards, encouraged by government financial aid
and other measures.
 With the accession of China into WTO, the
issue of pesticide and chemicals residues
gets more attention from processors and
buyers outside China.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Future Development and the Challenges
China is one of the biggest potential fruit and vegetable juice markets in the
world.
Comparison of annual per capita consumption of fruit and vegetable juice
Countries
Annual
Consumption (Kg)
China
1kg
U.S.A
45kg
Germany
46kg
Japan
16kg
Singapore
19kg
World Average
7kg
China: Low annual per capita consumption
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
1. Introduction of the Chinese Fruit and Vegetable
Processing Sector
The Future Development and the Challenges (cont.)
 Challenges on the on-going development of the industry sector
 No authorative quality inspection standard of fruit and vegetable juice in China.
 Chinese juice producers need to strenghten their own technical capabilities.
 Still a lack of high quality fruit and vegetables.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
2. Administration System of Chinese Agro-Food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
China’s Administration System

State Food and Drug Administration
Takes charge of the general administrative responsibility of food safety issues,
i.e. drafting the regulations and laws related to food, supervising the
publication of food safety information and other relevant activities, etc..

Ministry of Health
In charge of the legislation related to the food hygiene standards.
Takes the responsibility of drafting, editing and amending the national food
hygiene standards.

Ministry of Agriculture
Holds the responsibility of implementing the quality supervision of Agro-food
and Green Food.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
2. Administration System of Chinese Agro-Food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
China’s Administration System (cont.)

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine
(AQSIQ)
In charge of all the affairs related to product quality in China: Chinese food
market access regulation, food and cosmetics hygiene regulation, etc.

State Administration for Industry and Commerce
Responsible for the supervision of the Agro-food product in the sales period
and protection of the consumers’ rights against the fake and low quality food
products.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
3. Legislative Regulations of Chinese Agro-Food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
China’s legislative regulation framework: key laws
 Product Quality Law of the People’s Republic of China ( P.R.C )
 Food Hygiene Law of P.R.C
 Trademark Law of P.R.C
 Law of P.R.C on Import and Export Commodity Inspection
 Law of P.R.C on the Protection of Consumers' Rights and Interests
 Law of P.R.C on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine
 Law of Sanitary and Phytosanitary of Import and Export propagation
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
3. Legislative Regulations of Chinese Agro-Food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Food Hygiene Law Principles (as an example)
 Principle of supervision by government
The government establishes a system of food hygiene supervision.
 Principle of thorough supervision
Any person and organizations engaged in food production or marketing within
the territory of P.R.C must obey this Law.
 Principle of supervision by society
The government encourages and protects the social supervision on food
hygiene exercised by public organizations and individuals.
Most of the above laws except Food Hygiene Law do not only regulate the
food issues, also cover the broad range of the other products. We take
Food Hygiene Law as an example to examine the underlying legislative
principles of these laws.
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December 2004
3. Legislative Regulations of Chinese Agro-Food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Food Hygiene Law Requirements
1.
The qualified Food should be non-toxic and harmless, conform to proper
nutritive requirements and have appropriate sensory properties such as colour,
fragrance and flavour;
2.
Special requirements for the infants and the pre-school children;
3.
Food must not contain any medicinal substances, with the exception of those
materials that traditionally serve as food and medicine and are used as raw
materials, condiments or nutrition;
4.
Hygiene requirements for food additives;
5.
Requirements for containers, packaging and equipment of food.
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December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
General Introduction of Chinese Standards

Chinese standards on food can be divided into four levels: national standards,
industrial standards, local standards and enterprises standards;

They can also be classified as: compulsory standards, recommendation
standards and technical instructive files.

A third method of categorization is dividing them as product quality standards,
production standards, inspection standards, etc..

The food product quality standards in China normally include the following
content such as in Quality Standard of the Fruit Juice (NY/T 434-2000):



Range
Cited Standard
Requirement
o Sensory
o Physical and Chemical
o Hygiene




Testing Methods
Testing Rule
Sign and Label
Package, Storage and Transport
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December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
Execution of Standards

Standards are implemented effectively by large and medium enterprises,
foreign enterprises and joint ventures.

A lot of small and medium enterprises are not able to implement the national
standards due to their underperforming technical capabilities and shabby
equipments.

The frequency of food safety accidents in China
reflects the poor implementation of the standards
by some SMEs in this sector.
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December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
Chinese Certification System of Greed Food


The Green Food certification system is regulated by Ministry
of Agriculture. The “Green Food” logo (see right) can be
printed in the package of the food certificated as “Green
Food”.
The Green food standard system includes two classes of standards: Class A and
Class AA.

For Class A Green Food, it is allowed to use the limited chemosynthetic
fertilizer and pesticide during the production of the food.

But for Class AA Green Food, the use of chemosynthetic fertilizer, pesticide,
animal medicine, feed additive, food additive and other substances harmful
for the environment and the human health is forbidden.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
Chinese Certification System of Organic Food
and Non-environmental Pollution Food

The Organic Food system is regulated by the State
Environment Protection Administration. In 1995, it established
the “Rules of Organic Food Labelling” and the “Technical
Code of Organic Food Production and Processing”.

The Non-environmental Pollution Food is certified and
regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the
Administration rule of Non-environmental Pollution Agro-food
(April 29th, 2002), the certification can be classified into
environment certification and product certification.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
Comparison of Chinese Standards of Green Food, Organic
Food and Non-Environmental Pollution Agro-Food
Utilization of the
chemosynthetic
fertilizers and
pesticides
Production
Environment
(GB18407.1～4-2001)
Organic food
Not allowed
According to
production standard
of organic agriculture
The transition period is necessary in terms
of changing the common production to the
organic production.
Class
AA
Not allowed
Organic producing
standard
Environmental requirements of NY/T3912000
Class A
Limited quantity
and variety
NY/T392～394 and
codes of practice
Environmental requirements of NY/T392000
Green
food
Nonenvironmental
pollution food
Can be used
according to the
standards
Environmental requirements of
GB/T1840.1-4-2001
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
4. Chinese Agro-food Processing of Fruit and
Vegetables: Regulating Standards
The Challenges Facing the Improvement of Chinese Standards

Compared with the developed countries, Chinese current legislation
systems related to food safety are not systematic and comprehensive.

Chinese standards on fruit and vegetables in the fields of production,
processing and distribution are less developed than in the areas of the
product standards.

Several ministries and agencies share
the responsibility of the standard regulation,
leading to inconsistences, ambiguities
and incompatibilities on the fruit and
vegetable process industry.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Market Access Policies

To prevent severe alimentary toxicosis a Market Access System was
established by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection &
Quarantine (AQSIQ) in July 2002. By the end of August 2003, more than 7,400
food manufacturers have passed market access evaluation.

The local quality supervision bureaus at the county level are responsible for
the market access supervision in their administrative area.

If the company meets the requirements set by AQSIQ, it is conferred a
“manufacture permission certificate” and a logo of “QS” can be labelled in the
package of the food product. The food with this logo is permitted to be sold in
the market.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Shelf Life Policies
 In 2000, new food shelf life standards were established for the food products:
•
Can of fruit and vegetable: 15 months;
•
Fruit and Vegetable juice in ring-pull can and glass bottle: 6 months;
•
Fruit-flavour carbonated drinks in glass bottle: 3 months;
•
Canned fruit-flavour carbonated drinks, ratafee and dew wine: 6 months;
•
Fried dry fruit, tomato paste in iron and glass can: 12 months.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Policies

From 1988 to 2002, the Ministry of Health has promulgated 20 compulsory GMP
certification guidelines (one general and the others special). The special GMP
guidelines focus on the canned food, glazed fruit, drinks, wine, ratafee,
expanded food, healthy food and quick-frozen food, etc..
The GMP guidelines related to fruit and vegetables include:
 Sanitation Criteria for Can Processing Enterprises for Export.
 Sanitation Criteria for Drinks Processing Enterprises for Export.
 Sanitation Criteria for Quick-frozen instant food Processing Enterprises for
Export etc.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
HACCP Policies

In 2002 the Certification and Accreditation Administration developed the
Regulation on Administration of HACCP Management System Certification - the
government encourages exporting enterprises to pass the HACCP certification.

Government agencies also formalized a list called List of Products of Sanitary
Registration for Establishments of Food for Export. The producers of these
goods are obliged to implement HACCP and pass the certification.

The Food Safety Program and Activities issued by the Ministry of Health
(August 14th, 2003) stipulates that all fruit and vegetable juice and can
producing facilities must implement HACCP before 2006.

By the end of August 2003, 44 fruit and vegetable juice processing companies
in China whose products are supplied to US market have passed the HACCP
certification. Their names are linked to the official website of FDA.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Labeling Policies

General standard for the food labelling in China (GB 7718-1994) is adapted from
Codex’s General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods (CODEX
STAN 1-1991). This standard also applies to all pre-packaged foods including
fruit and vegetable products in China.

The Guideline of the Logos of Organic Food, promulgated by the State
Environmental Protection Agency on April 7th, 2001, stipulates that if over 95%
of raw material of a processed product is certified by Organic Food
Development Center (OFDC) and the product is processed and packaged in an
OFDC-certified processor, the product can be labeled as "organic" and bear
OFDC logo.

If less than 95% (but over 70%) of raw material of a processed product is
certified, the product can not be labeled as "organic" or use the logo. But in its
label, the names and proportions of the certified raw materials can be indicated.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Environment Risk Assessment Policies

The environment impact assessment law (Sept. 1st, 2003) has great impact on
the fruit and vegetable processing enterprises.

At present
processing
production
regulations

On December 8th, 1998 China Packaging Technology Association and China
Packaging Parent Company set down the instructions for reusing package
materials and call-back.
the environment risk assessment system for fruit and vegetable
has not been set up in China. However, fruit and vegetable
and processing must follow the relevant Chinese environmental
and avoid environmental pollution.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
5. Analysis of China’s Key Policies on Agro-food
Processing of Fruit and Vegetables
Cleaner Production Policies

China government has initiated a series of
cleaner production projects since 1993.

Most of China provinces, autonomous regions
and municipalities have organized the training
programs of the cleaner production since then.

China's cleaner production promotion law is
effective since Jan. 1, 2003.
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004
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Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
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Thank you for your attention!
Responding to S&T co-operation with China – The Development of a Cross-Border Agro-Food Processing S&T Platform
December 2004