Washington, Nov.28: Safety experts at the Michigan State University (MSU) have said that the quality of Chinese consumer goods imported to the United States need to improve.

A team of MSU researchers who visited China recently, said quality control in China needed to be more efficient and effective.

“There are problems with a lack of trained staff to do the certifications, lack of training for producers and distributors and inadequate government oversight leading to misuse of labels,” said Larry Busch, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of MSU’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards.

Busch was a member of an MSU team that took part in an international research symposium on Certification and Traceability for Food Safety and Quality in China.

To date, a wide range of systems of certification and traceability have been put into practice in China, but they are neither consistent with each other nor widely understood.

“Certification is when I buy something that has a label showing that someone inspected and found it to be in conformity. Traceability means that I can buy something at the supermarket and find out easily where it was produced, down to the level of the farm,” said Busch.

With the worldwide growth of trade in food and agricultural products, and China emerging as a major player, there has been growing global public concern and awareness of food safety and quality.

“Food and agricultural products require greater attention to safety, quality and environmental issues. These are now major concerns of the Chinese and other governments as well as of retailers and consumers,” Busch said. (ANI)