英闻天下——545 Beijing Food Safety Regulation Takes Effect

 　　A new food safety regulation issued by the Beijing Municipal Government has officially taken effect on Monday. The new regulation strengthens on tighter supervision¹ and control of street food vendors² and online food retailers⁴, as well as on harsher punishment for violators.

 

　　However, the regulation's draft stirred public concerns by banning baby formula online trade, but it was eventually amended⁵ to only allow online stores that possess both Business License⁶ and Food Circulation Permit to run the deal.

 

　　Dairy industry analyst⁷, Song Liang, at productivity promotion⁸ center of commercial circulation says the amendment⁹ was inevitable¹⁰ since online shopping platform has become an important way of purchasing baby formula in recent years.

 

　　"According to our figure, last year's baby formula sales volume in China is around 50 billion to 60 billion yuan, and online sales take up about 10 percent."

 

　　Song Liang says that selling and purchasing baby formula online is going to be the future trend, since the cost is lower for both companies and customers, and it opens a window for big brands to expand its market in the country. Song gives further explanation.

 

　　"The circulation cost of selling baby formula through online shopping platform is very low, merely 30 percent of that of store sales. In result, the price of baby formula per can can be reduced by 40 yuan. Another thing is that many foreign brands find it hard to get a proper retailer³ in China, online shopping platforms provide a perfect choice with low entry cost and risk. As for big brands that have already secured a position in China's market, they can further expand their market into third and forth¹¹ tier cities and towns with the help of express delivery service."

 

　　Earlier in March, Tmall, a major Chinese online shopping platform, has announced its cooperation with overseas baby formula companies to sell their products to Chinese consumers online.

 

　　However, many worry that the new food safety regulation will lead to closures of online stores fail to acquire the licenses¹², and with less competition, the online stores remain in the market will mark their price higher.

 

　　Song Liang says the worry is unnecessary and the new regulation has more positive effects.

 

　　"There had been a lack of standardization¹³ in baby foods online trading. There are problems like information asymmetry¹⁴ between sellers and customers, and there are stores selling fake products. The regulation can largely solve such problems. For legal sellers, the regulation protects their rights by keeping illegal competitors and fake products out of the market. For buyers, the only possible reason for a rise in price is supply shortage. And I think the price will most likely remain stable. "

 

　　In recent years when food safety issue raised concerns among the public, people have been complaining about the lack of harsh punishment on violators. The new regulation made a breakthrough. Feng Yuan, director at the Beijing Food Safety Office, gives a brief introduction.

 

　　"In the regulation we stipulate¹⁵ that once a food producer and a seller were found guilty of violating the law and put into prison, they are then forbidden from food industry for the rest of their life."

 

　　For CRI, I'm Wang Wei.

1 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

2 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

4 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

5 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

6 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

9 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

10 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

11 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

12 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

13 standardization   

n.标准化

参考例句：

• Standardization of counseling techniques is obviously impossible. 很清楚，要想使研讨方法标准化是不可能的。
• In Britain, progress towards standardization was much slower. 在英国，向标准化进展要迟缓得多。

14 asymmetry   

n.不对称；adj.不对称的，不对等的

参考例句：

• These bands must introduce longitudinal asymmetry in the planetary albedo.这些云带必定引起行星反照率的经向不对称性。
• In any event the asymmetry is clear enough.总之，不对称是非常明显的。

15 stipulate   

vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证

参考例句：

• International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
• Some manufacturers stipulate the price at which their goods are to be sold.有些制造商规定出售他们生产的商品的价格。