China's first database for farm products in accordance with international standards has passed technical tests and will be in use soon, sources with the State Committee for Standardization said Monday.
Since China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), many companies have failed to export farm products due to the lack of knowledge of international standards and codes, according to experts with the committee.
Meanwhile, food safety has surfaced as China's fourth most critical social problem after population, resources, and environment issues.
The State Committee for Standardization started building the database in September last year in a bid to facilitate exports of farm products and raise national awareness of international standards.
The database features standards set by international organizations and institutions such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and International Dairy Federation (IDF).
The database also lists standards in many of China's key markets, including the United States, the European Union and Japan.
Users can also find China's state and trade standards in the database.
(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2002)
