Food safety is of growing importance to the people of China and the Chinese government. A number of major incidents in China in recent years have driven the issue higher up the political agenda. Most notoriously these include a case in which fake baby milk powder led to the deaths of 12 babies in Anhui province in 2004.
Prominent international cases, such as the alarm over the banned food dye Sudan Red, have also had an impact, making China aware that in today's interconnected world a food safety problem in one country can quickly become a global concern.
The Chinese government knows it will have to increase its efforts to improve food safety as China moves towards a market-led economy and trades more food internationally. Accordingly, in September 2004, the State Council introduced measures to clarify responsibilities for food safety across government departments and to strengthen enforcement efforts at the local level.