Lecture 8- Process requirements

Question 1

What is the definition of food safety?

Answer 1

The assurance that food is non-toxic, harmless, and compliant with reasonable nutritional requirements, and will not cause any acute, chronic, and potential hazards to human health

Question 2

What is the definition of food hygiene?

Answer 2

The measures taken to prevent contamination of food by harmful substances during production, harvesting, processing, transportation , storage, distribution, and other stages for the purpose to benefit human health

Question 3

What is the scope of the process requirements?

Answer 3

• Food producers and Food distributors

- From input (purchase) to output (delivery) but also after that (traceability/recall)

Question 4

What is special about licensing for small local food businesses?

Answer 4

-no licensing is required for sales of edible agricultural products

Question 5

What are some basic hygiene requirements?

Answer 5

• premises
• equipment and facilities
• food safety management rules and staff
• facility design
• cleaning
• storage and transportation
• packaging materials
• personal hygiene
• water usage
• detergents and disinfectants

Question 6

What is the application procedure for processing?

Answer 6

1. Administrative Measures for the Administration of Food Production Licensing (2015) & Administrative Measures for the Administration of Food Distribution Licensing (2015)
   - Business license
   - License/authorization for special foods
   - Onsite inspection (unless exception applies)
   - Licensing classification but one company, one license

Question 7

What is Internal Food Safety Management (FSM) Rules?

Answer 7

-Control of incoming materials
Control of contamination during processing such as physical, chemical, biological contamination
-Packaging
-Control measures for food storage and transportation
-Health management of employees

Question 8

What is the role of product-specific hygiene standards?

Answer 8

• The method for eliminating or constraining growth and spread of microorganisms, such as heat treatments, freezing or cold storage according to the features of products shall be specified and the effective monitor and control shall be implemented
• The control measures and corrective actions for temperature and time shall be established, the regular verification shall be carried out
• For the process with strict control of temperature and time, it shall establish real-time monitoring measures and maintain the motoring records

Question 9

What is the hierarchy of internal FSM rules?

Answer 9

FSM and other legal requirements> GMP/HACCP> Association standards> Enterprise standards

Question 10

What is required of imported foods?

Answer 10

• facility registration
• onsite inspections by the Chinese importer
• product-specific food must meet food safety standards

Question 11

What does Chinese law say about traceability?

Answer 11

The state creates the process, food producers and traders will follow the law, and the FDA of the state council will cooperate with the agricultural administrative department and other relevant departments of the state council

Question 12

When do food producers need to recall unsafe food?

Answer 12

When food is discovered unsafe

Question 13

How do food producers need to recall when unsafe food is discovered?

Answer 13

• Stop production
• Recall
• Notify stakeholders
• Prevent re-entering market
• Other necessary measures
• Submit recall plan

Question 14

When do food distributors need to recall unsafe food?

Answer 14

• When food is recalled by producer

- When food is discovered unsafe and (a) no recall by producer, of (b) due to fault distributor

Question 15

How do food distributors need to recall unsafe food?

Answer 15

• Stop distribution
• Recall
• Notify stakeholders
• Prevent re-entering market
• Other necessary measures
• Submit recall plan

Question 16

Are online food platforms considered food producers or distributors?

Answer 16

No, third-party platform providers are addressed under the FSL but not as food producers/distributors

Question 17

What are online food platforms obligated to register?

Answer 17

They are obligated to register the legal name of food distributors admitted to the platform, to specify their food safety management responsibilities, to inspect their licenses, and report unlawful activities to the competent authority

Question 18

What does the E-Commerce Law (2018) include?

Answer 18

• business operators are required to have a business license
• Plus a production/distribution license when in food
• Exception for self-produced agricultural products (unprocessed or with very basic processing such as washing and/or slicing) and small scale
• Administrator of a chat (WeChat) can qualify as an “e-commerce business operator)