DeLauro, DeGette Call for Food Safety Discussion at U.S. China Strategic Economic Dialogue
Press Release
DeLauro, DeGette Call for Food Safety Discussion at U.S. - China Strategic Economic Dialogue
Congresswomen Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3), chairman of the House Agriculture - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Diana DeGette (CO-1) called on President George W. Bush to use the Strategic Economic Dialogue between the United States and China as an opportunity to reach an agreement on food imports that establishes genuine transparency and equivalent food safety regulations between the U.S. and China.
"Over the past weeks the pet food recall has clearly demonstrated the challenges and the realities of our global food supply system and our very strong interest in ensuring its safety. Given China 's increasing role as an exporter of goods to the rest of the world, they have an equal interest in reassuring the world community that Chinese products are safe," said DeLauro. "With the bilateral economic discussions we have an opportunity to take critical steps to improving the safety of our food import by urging China to implement food safety reforms that are discernible and verifiable if it wants continued access to the American market."
"The safety of the American food supply is increasingly dependent on the quality of our imports," said Rep. DeGette. "The recent outbreaks of food-born illness are a serious wake-up call for a much larger problem. We must act to ensure that our trading partners overseas uphold rigorous food safety and inspection standards. As the Bush Administration negotiates with the Chinese Government, it can raise and work to address the concerns all Americas share about the quality of the food we import from China . This is an opportunity we can't afford to miss."
The Strategic Economic Dialogue is the result of the growing trade relationship between the U.S. and China and is an effort to examine long-term strategic issues, as well as provide coordination among the specialized continuing dialogues. Additionally, it is a forum for discussing ways the two nations can work together to address economic challenges and opportunities as responsible stakeholders in the international economic system.
Below is the text of the letter.
May 22, 2007
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington , DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
During the Strategic Economic Dialogue that your administration is convening this week with Vice Premier Wu Yi from the People's Republic of China (PRC), we strongly urge that any agreement on food imports from China contain strong food safety measures that will ensure the American public is protected against contaminated imports and other failures in China 's food safety system. You are well aware of the recent situation involving tainted Chinese pet food ingredients that also contaminated feed for chicken, pork, and fish. While we understand the importance of creating trade opportunities around the world, it is critical that we establish genuine transparency and equivalent food safety regulations between the U.S. and China .
As recent news articles have revealed, the safety of imports from China extends beyond the pet food recall. In April, 107 food imports from China were detained at U.S. ports, including mushrooms containing illegal pesticides, seafood coated with bacteria, frozen catfish containing banned antibiotics, and dried apples preserved with a known carcinogen. More than one thousand shipments of tainted dietary supplements, toxic cosmetics, and counterfeit medicines also were detained at U.S. ports. In addition to these contaminated imports, China also has difficulty controlling the smuggling of foods into this country. China clearly is taking advantage of the fact that the U.S. inspects less than one percent of its food imports. It is alarming to us that so much food enters our nation unmonitored.
It has become common knowledge around the world that China is especially poor at meeting international food safety standards, which is particularly disturbing considering China exported approximately $2.26 billion in agricultural products to the U.S. in 2006. According to a May 22, 2007 article in USA Today, imports from China account for: 40 to 45 percent of all apple juice consumed in the U.S. ; 50 percent of all garlic; 19 percent of all honey; and 16 percent of all seafood. It is imperative that China modernize its food safety system with reforms that are discernible and verifiable if it wants continued access to the American market.
The recent pet food recall also highlighted another troubling aspect of our trade relationship with China - U.S. officials' lack of access to inspect facilities in China that process food destined for the U.S. During its investigation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted multiple requests to the Chinese government to allow U.S. inspectors to visit the Chinese facilities suspected of producing contaminated ingredients but were denied for several weeks before receiving approval on April 17, 2007. When the FDA inspectors finally arrived in China , they encountered facilities that were dismantled and sanitized. This situation emphasizes our need for the ability to certify and decertify food plants that are eligible to export to the U.S.
It should be noted that Japan has intensified its inspection of Chinese food imports by stationing officials at Chinese ports to inspect food destined for Japan , and establishing an additional inspection process when the food arrives in Japan . While this process may seem excessive, Japan felt it was necessary. The U.S. should consider similar measures until China has an adequate food safety system in place.
In the discussions with Vice Premier Wu Yi this week, we urge your administration to take the following actions:
·Request from China copies of summaries of their regulations pertaining to food safety, inspection, and certification, and an explanation of how they correlate with World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements;
·Require that China meet equivalent safeguards for all international standards and requirements, as well as obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement);
·Require that China provide documentation of its internal regulatory regime and regulatory agencies, within the central government and the provinces; and
·Urge China for greater transparency of its central and provincial government regulatory agencies.
Thank you for your consideration of this letter. As we indicated, we understand the importance of expanding trade opportunities however, they should not be gained at the expense of a safe food supply in the U.S.
Sincerely,
ROSA L. DeLAURO DIANA DeGETTE
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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