We are beginning to see the dust settle from China’s two sessions this past March as the revelations of China State Council’s institutional reforms begin to take shape. Past midnight on April 10^th China’s newly formed State Administration for Market Regulation officially unveiled its placard outside offices in Beijing. Reforms ratified at the two sessions are underway.

Now that SAMR’s director general Zhang Mao and head party secretary Bi Jingquan have put up their open for business sign they are tasked to formally overhaul and report the new authority’s responsibilities and functions. A timetable for this has been published and review of the administration’s responsibilities is to be due by June 20^th and official implementation by September of this year.

Due to consolidation of previous authorities such as AQSIQ, CFDA, SAIC, etc. into one comprehensive body, there is some concern as to SAMR’s capability to ensure food safety and market regulatory duties in the short-term. There is especially concern for provincial and municipal levels where implementation of the recent administrative reforms will be less smooth. If these terms are not clearly established on schedule it could potentially risk casting greater shadow on the short-term regulatory forecast for domestic and foreign businesses alike.

Although, the institutional reforms afoot only represent a restructuring in name the real implications have yet to come out. For the time being the market regulatory body will remain business as usual until the SMAR solidifies and implements its authority.

Original news as posted by the Chinese portal news.foodmate.net:

http://news.foodmate.net/2018/04/464232.html