What to do after food safety spot checks are found to be non-compliant? State Administration for Market Regulation openly solicits opinions.

Journalists learned today that the State Administration for Market Regulation recently organized the drafting of the "Food Safety Sampling Inspection and Verification Disposal Management Measures" and is now seeking public opinions. Food safety sampling inspection is an important technical support for food safety supervision, and verification and disposal is the "second half" of the sampling work, which is a key link to achieve the effectiveness of sampling and prevent and resolve food safety risks. The draft for public opinions clearly defines the responsibilities of market supervision departments at all levels, establishes a hierarchical classification verification and disposal mechanism with the State Administration for Market Regulation coordinating, provincial market supervision departments taking the lead, and municipal and county-level implementation, and constructs a working system that is interconnected, with clear rights and responsibilities, and efficient operation. Specific chapters set the responsibility of food production and operation entities and related subjects for verification and disposal, clearly stipulating that food production and operation entities must take on the legal obligations of risk emergency control and comprehensive investigation of the reasons for the problem after receiving reports of non-compliant inspections or problem foods, strictly prohibiting illegal acts such as refusing to obstruct verification, concealing the true situation, and providing false information. For new formats and models of food business, specific responsibilities of operators of online food trading platforms as well as operators and landlords of centralized trading markets are outlined to achieve full coverage of food production and operation entity responsibilities. In addition, in response to common and prominent issues exposed in recent years in the sampling inspection and disposal process, the supervision and management mechanism throughout the entire process is improved. A 24-hour rapid response mechanism for serious food safety risks is established to prevent the spread of major food safety risks. For serious violations such as repeated occurrences of non-compliant food, refusal to rectify, and inadequate rectification, clear criteria for applying strict penalties according to law are specified to enhance deterrence.