HAZARDOUS TOYS, FOOD THREATEN US-CHINA TRADE

Reports of toxic toothpaste, tainted pet food, contaminated seafood and now lead paint in toys have continued to raise fears among US consumers about the safety of Chinese products. While debate continues in both countries, response from officials in the PRC has included both immediate and preventative actions, as well as publicly encouraging Chinese citizens to report safety violations. The delicate balancing act of managing international public perception has taken a unique twist as the US has become critical of the effectiveness of China's domestic laws.

China is sparing no effort in preventing such news from tarnishing its image abroad. Just prior to the one-year countdown celebration for the 2008 summer Olympic Games, at which the slogan of the hour was “We Are Ready”, the Beijing organizing committee announced measures that it says will assure athletes of healthy food and sound air quality during the Games. This includes, among other measures, both improving the market entry system for food suppliers, and requiring that all food entering the Olympic Village carry a logistics code to enable tracking.

But more drastic measures have also been taken. In May, the former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration was sentenced to death for taking bribes in cash and gifts worth more than Rmb6.49 million to approve substandard medicines, which included an antibiotic blamed for at least 10 deaths. Beijing's No.1 Intermediate People's Court convicted Zheng Xiaoyu, one of the nation's most powerful regulators, after he pled guilty to corruption and accepting bribes that allowed eight companies to get around drug approval standards.