[Explanation] The newly revised "Regulations on the Administration of Pig Slaughter" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") will come into effect on August 1 this year.
On July 23, Ma Youxiang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, introduced at the State Council’s regular policy briefing that the new "Regulations" aimed to strengthen the management of pig slaughter, ensure the quality and safety of pig products, and ensure the "safety on the tip of the tongue" of the people.
[Explanation] The original "Regulations" were revised and implemented on August 1, 2008. Over the past 13 years, they have played an important role in effectively solving the problem of illegal slaughter and ensuring the quality and safety of live pig products and public health safety.
The new "Regulations" have further strengthened and improved the entire process of pig slaughter control, disease prevention and control, and legal responsibility setting.
[Concurrent] Ma Youxiang, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
The new "Regulations" consist of five chapters and 45 articles, emphasizing the effective convergence with higher-level laws such as the Food Safety Law and the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law.
Live pig slaughter is an important link between breeding and consumption. The quality and safety of live pig slaughter are well controlled, which is conducive to improving the quality and safety of live pig products and ensuring the "safety on the tip of the tongue" of the people.
[Explanation] Yang Zhenhai, director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that at present, China's pig slaughtering enterprises have overcapacity and low utilization rate.
The new "Regulations" will help guide the transfer of pig slaughtering and processing to concentrated breeding areas and speed up the upgrading of the slaughter industry.
It is also an important guarantee for reducing the risk of disease transmission.
[Concurrent] Yang Zhenhai, Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
The effective animal epidemic prevention and control measures in the slaughter process have been upgraded to the legal system, highlighting the strengthening of the responsibilities of related parties, and further improving the management system for the whole process of pig slaughter.
This is an important system guarantee for reducing the risk of disease transmission, improving the quality and safety of pork products, and promoting the healthy development of the slaughter industry.
[Explanation] How to ensure the effective implementation of the new "Regulations", Guo Wenfang, head of the Fourth Legislative Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, said that the Ministry of Justice will establish a credit record system and a "blacklist" system for the pig slaughter industry, and use "the most severe punishments and the most serious questions." "Responsibility" to combat illegal activities.
[Concurrent] Guo Wenfang, Head of the Fourth Legislative Bureau of the Ministry of Justice
First, the penalties for illegal activities of pig slaughter have been increased.
When stipulating the amount of fines, increase the amount of fines up to 30 times the value of the goods.
Second, during the revision process, the "Regulations" are in line with the Food Safety Law, and for violations of the law, the public security organs can detain their directly responsible persons in charge and other directly responsible persons for more than 5 days and less than 15 days in accordance with the law.
In the process of slaughtering pigs, those who constitute a crime must be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the law.
Thirdly, this amendment adds an industry prohibition system. If you are sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment or more for food safety crimes, you must not engage in pig slaughter management activities for life.
[Explanation] Yang Zhenhai added that the consumption structure of meat products in various parts of China is not the same. The slaughter system of cattle and sheep needs to respect local folk customs and it is best to be determined by the provincial people's governments.
For some remote and inconvenient rural areas, provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities should issue more practical management measures, but the standards must not be lowered, quality and safety must not be lost, and supervision must not be loosened.
Reporter Jean Baokui reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Zhang Aolin]