This development should provide not only a boost to Chinese food safety, which has come under large scrutiny this year, but will also improve foreign confidence in its meat sector.

The Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) is a government agency responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of food in China. The agency published this new standard for entry/exit inspection and quarantine in the PRC. This describes the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for rapid pathogen detection and names the automated BAX® system as an approved PCR method for detecting Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and E. sakazakii in food.

“When monitoring food imports and exports, efficiency is critical,” said Qin Zhenkui, president of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ), AQSIQ. “PCR technology can provide the speed, sensitivity and accuracy in routine food testing that allows our agency to make faster release decisions with a high degree of confidence.”

Another food safety monitoring authority in China – the Beijing Municipal Center for Food Safety Monitoring (BFSM) – is already using the BAX® detection system to provide technical support for food safety management of the Beijing municipal government and the 2008 athletic competition.

“This is good news from AQSIQ,” said Kevin Huttman, president – DuPont Qualicon. “Protecting the food supply is a major global concern, and we understand that China is also facing the increasing demands and emerging challenges on food safety. We’re pleased that the BAX® system is helping government agencies in China and around the world with cost-effective and highly accurate food safety testing.”