Beijing will intensify food safety controls during the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by drawing new food safety standards for some 350 types of food, that fall into 10 big categories.

The ten categories of food range from grain oils, fruits and vegetables to beverages, aquatic and dairy products.

According to Beijing's food safety supervision and control center, the city has set up a data bank through which all food suppliers and sponsors for the upcoming Olympiad will be closely monitored. The bank will also assess possible risks of the food through all statistics and samples it duly collects.

Meanwhile, an identity-telling system will also begin operation during the event. The time an athlete enters a dining room, his personal information will be automatically identified. The dishes and food he/she orders will instantly be recorded at the same time by the system, telling as well where they come from, through what channels they are transported, and by what means they are processed. With its help, food security authorities are expected to be able to conduct possible aid services in case any emergency cases happen. Such electronic food security "cops" are expected to put into operation this August.

The service will also be available to Beijing citizens after the Olympic Games. It will also serve other significant activities.

In a similar development, the 2008 Beijing Olympics Experts Committee for Food Safety has also been formally established. Beijing's food safety supervision and control center will cooperate with the committee on food safety works.

A relevant regulation on food safety supervision and management for the Olympic Games will also be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress for approval. The regulation will require quick response measures to emergencies and instant punishments to people who break such regulations.

Rehearsals on Olympic food safety will also be held in the city before the opening of the international event.

(CRI March 24, 2007)