Qingzhen acts against counterfeit, substandard rural food

Qingzhen -- a county-level city in Southwest China's Guizhou province -- has acted against counterfeit and substandard food in rural areas over the past two months, to ensure fair competition and to promote the effective implementation of rural revitalization strategies.

The city issued the "Implementation Plan for the Special Action on Counterfeit and Substandard Food in Rural Areas" and the "Notice of the Qingzhen Food Safety Committee Office on Carrying out Special Action on Counterfeit and Substandard Food in Rural Areas".

It followed that up by holding a special meeting to carry out the action and monitor the results.

The law enforcement team was composed of officials from the Qingzhen market regulations bureau, villages, towns and sub-districts in Qingzhen. 

The team conducted inspections of small workshops, stalls and restaurants around large food wholesale markets, suburban areas, rural fairs, campuses, tourist attractions and highway service areas. 

Focusing on food counterfeiting, inferior quality and spoilage, the law enforcement team inspected the types of food consumed in large quantities in rural areas -- including convenience food, snacks, beverages, condiments, milk and dairy products, meat and meat products.

To date, Qingzhen has dispatched a total of 378 law enforcement personnel, inspected 18 rural markets, one wholesale market, 68 food producers and 742 food business entities.

It has also organized a training session for food producers and business operators and filed proceedings against three cases of illegal acts.

The city will next combine the special action with long-term enforcement, increased supervision and random inspections of rural markets and wholesale markets.

It will also crack down on illegal and criminal activities in the production and sale of counterfeit and substandard food.

Che Weiwei contributed to the story.