Hunan Red Network reported that according to the relevant work requirements of the State Administration for Market Supervision and Administration that "betel nut should no longer be supervised according to food", combined with the spirit of the "Notice on Production and Operation Activities Related to Betel Nut Products", the Yinjiaxi Market Supervision and Management Institute of the Yongding District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Zhangjiajie City immediately put the work into the agenda, combined with the actual situation of Yin jiaxi, discussed the plan for the rectification of betel nut products, actively deployed, highlighted the key points, strengthened publicity, and created a good atmosphere.
On the morning of January 5, the upstream news (e-mail: [email protected]) reporter learned from the food license window of the Hunan Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau that "from 2021, the Hunan Provincial Municipal Supervision Bureau will no longer handle the food production license (extension) of all betel nut enterprises in the province." ”
▲ On January 5, a convenience store in Yuelu District, Changsha City, placed more than 10 betel nut products. The owner said that the sales of betel nut products are normal at present. Photo / Upstream journalist Xiao Peng
According to the Red Network, recently, the law enforcement personnel of yinjiaxi institute have carried out special rectification actions in the area under the supervision of the institute, mainly based on publicity and guidance, supplemented by filing and investigation, actively publicizing and increasing the intensity of investigation, and carried out inspection and publicity work on various small and medium-sized convenience stores, supermarkets, especially key areas such as campuses and surrounding areas. In order to allow merchants to avoid unnecessary losses, the staff of yinjiaxi market supervision and management institute sent a "warm reminder" "online" in the WeChat supervision group, and also "offline" to publicize the new regulations that "food stores are not allowed to sell betel nut products", suggesting that merchants temporarily postpone the purchase of betel nut products. "Betel nut products are no longer sold as food, please betel nut products with caution." The staff of the Yinjiaxi Market Supervision and Management Institute patiently publicized to the broad masses during the inspection.
Upstream journalists noted that as early as 2020, the latest revision of the State Administration for Market Supervision and Administration's "Classification Catalogue of Food Production Licenses" (hereinafter referred to as the "Catalogue") did not include "edible betel nut". Betel nut, as a first-class carcinogen, its "food" status has been controversial for many years. In Hunan, the betel nut industry has exceeded 100 billion yuan, how to define its "identity"? Where do businesses go from here?
"This question, which involves the development of the industry, is not easy for us to answer." The relevant person in charge of a large betel nut enterprise in Hunan replied to reporters.
Subsequently, the reporter called Yang Xun, president of the Hunan Betel Nut Association, and in response to the questions raised, he suggested that the reporter consult the market supervision department.
"Management still has to be managed, but how to manage it, in which category, have to wait for the official document notification." The staff of the permit processing window of the Hunan Provincial Municipal Supervision Bureau said: "The above arrangement will not tell me now, we will wait for the document to notify it." ”
"I don't know much about this, this involves the planning of the entire industry, and the specific information publicity on the Internet shall prevail." On the morning of January 5, the staff of the office of the Xiangtan Municipal Supervision Bureau introduced, "We in Xiangtan will definitely take action, if it is indeed the responsibility of the market supervision department, we will definitely promote the implementation of relevant regulatory policies." ”
▲Produced by Hunan Taste King Food Co., Ltd. and priced at 100 yuan / bag, the outer packaging does not indicate the food production license number. Photo / Upstream journalist Xiao Peng
In fact, in order to stabilize the development of the 100 billion scale industry that is rare in the province, Hunan has also made some attempts. On May 21, 2021, the "Reply to Recommendation No. 1247 of the Fourth Session of the 13th Provincial People's Congress" publicly released on the official website of the Hunan Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau mentioned that in the long run, promoting the inclusion of betel nut in the "medicine and food homology" directory is the key to solving the lack of regulatory evidence. The Hunan Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau has proposed to the provincial government that the Provincial Health Commission promote the safety assessment of betel nut and report to the National Health Commission to study the inclusion of betel nut in the "medicine and food homology" directory.
In addition, the "Reply" also said that in the next step, the Hunan Provincial Market Supervision Bureau will strengthen the work connection with the Provincial Department of Justice and the Provincial People's Congress, do a good job in the follow-up of legislative projects, and strive to determine the positioning of betel nut "local specialty products" through local legislation.
However, soon after the news was released, it was "shelled" by various netizens, angrily denouncing "asking for money and not dying". Currently, this information is no longer retrievable.
The reporter noted that Hunan Wuzidui Food Co., Ltd. expired on September 7, 2021, and Hunan Huangye Food Co., Ltd. expired on August 25, 2021, but the above enterprises are still in normal production.
At noon on January 5, the upstream news reporter came to a convenience store in Yuelu District, Changsha City, and there were more than 10 kinds of betel nut products placed under the cash register in the store, with a minimum price of 5 yuan / bag and a maximum of 100 yuan / bag. The owner said that the betel nut in the store is still on sale normally.
The reporter noted that the taste king betel nut produced by Hunan Taste King Food Co., Ltd. at a price of 100 yuan / pack, the Xiangtan wolfberry betel nut produced by Pingxiang Wuzidui Food Technology Co., Ltd. did not indicate the food production license number, only indicated the production license number, and the food name marked on the back of the above product packaging was "edible betel nut". Although the food production license of Hunan Huangye Food Co., Ltd. expired last year, the company continued to produce Zhang Xinfa betel nut by using the food production license of Xiangtan County Jiaji Food Co., Ltd., the entrusted producer.
▲ Although the food production license of Hunan Huangye Food Co., Ltd. expired last year, the company continued to produce Zhang Xinfa betel nut by using the food production license of Xiangtan County Jiaji Food Co., Ltd., the entrusted producer. Photo / Upstream journalist Xiao Peng
Article 67 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that there shall be a label on the packaging of prepackaged food. The label shall indicate the following matters: (1) name, specification, net content, production date; (2) ingredient or ingredient list; (3) the name, address, and contact information of the producer; (4) shelf life; (5) product standard code; (6) storage conditions; (7) the generic name of the food additive used in the national standard; (8) the production license number; (9) other matters that should be marked by laws, regulations or food safety standards.
"The crux of the betel nut problem is whether it is a food product." Legal sources believe that if betel nut is used as a prepackaged food, the production license information should be clearly marked on its packaging. If you engage in food production and operation without obtaining the qualification to engage in food production, the food and drug supervision and administration department of the people's government at or above the county level shall confiscate the illegal gains and illegal production and operation of food, food additives, tools, equipment, raw materials and other articles used for illegal production and operation in accordance with Article 122 of the Food Safety Law; A fine of not less than 10 times but not more than 20 times the value of the goods shall be imposed.
Upstream journalist Xiao Peng