FACTBOX-U.S. asks China to do more to stem tainted exports
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - The Bush administration is pressing China to do more to ensure the safety of the food and other goods it exports to the United States. Following are several of the steps proposed this week by U.S. health and agriculture officials. * A registry of all Chinese firms exporting certain goods to the United States. The registry would be updated twice a year and China would inspect the registered firms. Exports from firms that failed to register would be prohibited. * Another registry with China's food and drug authority of chemical firms that produce pharmaceuticals. There would be heightened oversight of these firms, along with coordinated investigation and prosecution of firms that use unauthorized chemicals. * Permission for U.S. inspectors to travel to China and audit Chinese firms as they see fit. * Results, including raw data, of Chinese tests of regulated products. * Results of continued tests to detect melamine in any exports destined for human or animal consumption. China would also investigate reports of toothpaste contaminated with diethylene glycol. * China's "active" participation in a task force on counterfeit medicine at the World Health Organization.
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