China Introduces National Standards for School Meal Services

The Chinese government has introduced its inaugural national standard focused on school meal services. This standard, announced by the State Administration for Market Regulation, is set to be implemented on December 1st of this year.

The new guidelines, titled "Guidelines for the Management of School Meal Service Enterprises," are designed to regulate businesses that prepare and deliver meals to primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens. This initiative addresses a significant sector, considering the vast number of educational institutions and students involved.

China currently has over 460,000 primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, serving more than 237 million students. The guidelines emphasize the importance of food safety and operational transparency within these establishments.

Key requirements outlined in the guidelines include the designation of full-time staff dedicated to food safety management and inspection. Furthermore, enterprises are mandated to source essential ingredients, such as rice, flour, and oil, from approved suppliers. They must also maintain testing reports for every batch of raw materials used.

To enhance transparency, the guidelines stipulate that meal preparation processes should be integrated into an internet-enabled monitoring system. This system will make key operational procedures accessible to schools, parents, and students, promoting accountability and oversight.