Food & Water Watch to Congress: Start Equivalency Process from Scratch for Chinese Imports
2009-07-28
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Food & Water Watch to Congress: Start Equivalency Process from Scratch for Chinese Imports
Consumer Group Urges USDA to Rescind Flawed Chinese Chicken Import Rule and Renew Approval Process at House Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing
Washington, D.C. – Today, Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, testified before the House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration and recommended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) restart its approval process in granting China equivalency status before importing processed poultry products. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to maintain a ban on imported processed poultry products from China; however, the ban is currently before the U.S. Senate and under threat as pressure increases from agribusiness to end the prohibition in the USDA budget.
“Before we open the floodgates for potentially dangerous chicken products to land on American plates, we need to ensure that China’s food safety laws and regulations meet U.S. standards,” stated Hauter.
According to Food & Water Watch, USDA rulemaking in 2006 was flawed, as the agency rushed through the process and ignored the overwhelming majority of submitted comments against granting China equivalency status based on deficiencies in the Chinese food safety inspection system. U.S. inspectors found defective equipment, lack of employee hygiene, unsanitary conditions in Chinese facilities, and an absence of testing programs for Salmonella, E. coli and other contaminants. As recently as this spring, officials of China’s Health Ministry described their food safety situation as ‘grim, with high risks and contradictions.’
Some domestic agribusiness trade associations have been vocal in pressing for a removal of the ban on the importation of processed poultry products because they view it as an impediment to the export of U.S. beef to China.
“Trade should not trump public health,” argued Hauter. “While China might view this as a quid pro quo, the welfare of U.S. consumers should not be sacrificed so that we can open up new export markets.”
Food & Water Watch recommends USDA rescind the April 2006 rule that limited Chinese exports to fully cooked shelf-stable poultry products and start from scratch in determining if products from Chinese poultry slaughter facilities are eligible for export.
“We should wait to see how [China’s] new food safety law works and whether the government can enforce it before we allow them to export any more food to us,” concluded Hauter.
Hauter’s full testimony is posted at: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/equivalency-testimony.pdf
The House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies hearing will be held today at 11:00am EST at 2362-A Rayburn.
Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit consumer organization based in Washington, D.C., works to ensure clean water and safe food in the United States and around the world. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.