China to crack down on food safety crimes and online sales

China is intensifying its crackdown on food safety crimes and increasing oversight of online food sales and emerging business models. According to new guidelines issued by the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, authorities are calling for harsher penalties for serious offenses and closer coordination between food safety regulators and criminal justice agencies.

Officials noted that while the overall food safety situation remains stable, crimes have become more sophisticated, increasingly utilizing online platforms and spanning multiple stages of the supply chain. Priority areas for enforcement include meat products, school meals, health foods, vegetables, and fruits. The guidelines also mandate stricter controls on food production, catering services, and imports.

To improve efficiency, the directives call for clearer procedures for reporting suspected crimes and better information sharing between agencies. China also plans to accelerate revisions to its Food Safety Law to clarify regulatory responsibilities for companies involved in fresh food e-commerce, food delivery services, and livestream sales. Additionally, authorities will update lists of prohibited additives as new illegal substances are identified through investigations.