Implementing China's Food Safety Regulatory Reform: A Policy Capacity Perspective

China’s food safety regulations are becoming increasingly stringent recently. With data collected from regulators and regulatees from 5 sub-districts and townships in Beijing, the study assesses the organizational and... [ view full abstract ]

China’s food safety regulations are becoming increasingly stringent recently. With data collected from regulators and regulatees from 5 sub-districts and townships in Beijing, the study assesses the organizational and systemic capacities of the regulatory system at the policy implementation interface. The findings showed that these offices suffered from low staff morale due to inadequate law-enforcers, dissatisfactory remuneration and prospects. Frequent abuses of the citizen report system, new requirements to release food safety information and respond immediately to complaints increased much of their heavy workload. Inspection equipment remained inadequate, though financial resources were generally sufficient and performance accountability systems well-established. Sub-district intra-agency coordination was observed, but that with other ministries and regions needed improvement. Local courts were observed to maintain its independence and interpret the regulations strictly, but the latest requirements and minimum penalties complicated much frontline officers’ work. These findings provide valuable lessons for improving the implementation of the reform.

This paper abstract is submitted to fit for the panel of I1 – Contexts of regulation and generalization of theories