7 Risk alarm and Rapid Response

7.1 Object and Scope of Risk alert & Rapid Response Mechanism
Chemical, physical or biological contaminants that have or may have or have potential hazardous effect on human health, including pathogens, pests, pesticide and drug residues, heavy metal residues, toxins, and animal-derived food products non-compliant with labeling requirements, etc.

7.2 Contracture of Organization and Management of risk alert

7.2.1 AQSIQ plays a leading role in the management of Risk Alert and Quick Responding System for imported and exported food products of animal origin, with Import and Export Food Safety Bureau taking care of the actual implementation.

7.2.2 Risk Alert and Quick Responding Office (which is under Standards, Law and Regulation Center, known also as Risk Alert Office) deals with daily affairs associated with risk alert.

7.2.3 Provincial/local CIQ designates corresponding bodies to deal with risk alert and quick responding affairs.

7.3 Risk alert measures

7.3.1 To issue alert notifications to provincial/local CIQ, to strengthen inspection, supervision on specific entry-exit commodities/consignments, and to take effective measures to bring risks, if any, under control.

7.3.2 To release alert notifications reminding domestic and foreign producers and relevant authorities to take proper measures for the purpose of removing or reducing risks.

7.3.3 To publicize alert notifications enhancing consumers' awareness of the risk a certain animal-originated food product may impose.

7.4 Rapid Response

7.4.1 Rapid response of Entry-exit inspection and quarantine

7.4.1.1 Border controls: if non-compliant products are found by CIQ, responding restrictive measures will be taken in line with relevant laws and regulations; if found to be seriously non-compliant, products shall be rejected or destroyed, and the entry/exit of them shall not be allowed.

7.4.1.2 Routine controls: if non-compliant products are found in routine analysis, the products shall be closely supervised, and follow-up measures like the increase of sampling percentage, testing items and consignments, detaining, mandatory recalls, shall be taken.

7.4.1.3 When there are reports on hazardous products in a third country, corresponding measures, such as strengthening supervision on the establishments that produce, process or store products that may pose risks; if non-compliance is confirmed, the registration number and/or labeling certificate of animal products for import/export of the establishment(s) will be annulled.

7.4.2 Emergent Control Measures

7.4.2.1 Imported/exported animal products that may produce severe hazardous effect will be detained for further analysis, the movement of which shall be restricted until risk assessment is made based on collected information.

7.4.2.2 Imported/exported animal products that are confirmed to have Class A hazardous effect shall be rejected at border, to be destroyed or recalled; and if necessary, the State Council shall be suggested to take measures to close border post(s) involved.

7.4.3 Recall Management Procedure
When exported food products are confirmed to be unsafe or unsuitable for human consumption, the competent authorities shall issue recall notifications to the producers/exporters involved, and coupled with that, export suspension announcements will also be issued. Producers involved, upon the arrival of recall notifications, shall suspend the export of the affected food products within 3 days; exporters involved, upon the arrival of recall notifications, shall start to recall the affected products within 5 days. Recall records shall be kept in line with recall procedure requirements; recall reports shall be submitted to the competent authorities upon the completion of recall procedures. The competent authorities or their designated agencies are responsible for the review and verification of recalls made to ensure its accordance with recall plans.