New Regulations on Supervision of Chain Catering Enterprises Issued

On September 30th, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Regulations on the Supervision and Management of Food Safety Responsibility of Chain Catering Enterprises." This regulation aims to strengthen the supervision of food safety in chain catering enterprises and urge them to fulfill their responsibilities as the main body of food safety.

"The market regulatory authorities must warn the majority of chain catering enterprises: 'You cannot just open a restaurant and neglect its operation! You cannot just collect fees and evade responsibilities!'" said Sun Huichuan, the director of food safety at the State Administration for Market Regulation.

In terms of supervision mechanism, the regulations specify the principles of classification, highlighting key points, systematic management, and risk control. The food safety supervision of the headquarters of catering chain enterprises, with the number of stores exceeding 10,000, ranging from 1,000 to 9,999, and less than 999, is respectively the responsibility of the provincial-level, municipal-level, and county-level market regulatory authorities.

As for the responsibility sharing mechanism, the regulations require the headquarters, branches, and stores of chain catering enterprises to implement integrated management, and to establish a work system and mechanism for monthly coordination at the headquarters, weekly inspection at the branch, and daily control at the store. At the same time, the management responsibilities of the enterprise headquarters are consolidated, detailing their responsibilities in assessment, personnel training, standardized management, food procurement, and handling of food safety complaints.