U.S. to examine ways better to monitor imports from China
Stories about contaminated and defective imports from China abound, and the administration is studying ways to keep such imports safe
As more evidence emerges to support growing concerns about defective, contaminated, and dangerous products — including food — imported into the United States, especially from China, President Bush ordered top aides on Wednesday to review the safety of such imports. “The American people expect their government to work tirelessly to make sure consumer products are safe,” Bush said after signing an order creating a task force to assess U.S. safeguards and report back in sixty days. Bush appointed Michael Leavitt, the health and human services secretary, to lead the panel, which will work to “review the procedures in place … to make sure that our food supply remains the safest in the world”.
Bush did not name any countries of concern and Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said: “This is not a slap at China.” U.S. and Chinese officials are to hold talks in Beijing starting on 31 July to improve food safety mechanisms. Chinese officials have blamed foreign media for exaggerating the issue but have also admitted there is a serious problem with food hygiene and safety standards in the nation of 1.3 billion people.
