The remarkable period of rapid economic growth that has occurred in China’s urban areas may have positive and negative effects on the nation’s food safety system. A recent survey of urban consumers showed that 85% of respondents primarily value food safety and quality when making purchasing decisions for fresh fish and meat (Blissett and Harreld, 2008). Other research has shown that urban residents were willing to pay a modest price premium for food products that undergo more rigorous food safety inspection (Wang et al., 2008). The HACCP certification system that was previously only used in China for export products is now being adopted by some producers of food for the domestic market despite findings that less than 20% of surveyed Chinese consumers knew what the HACCP system is (Wang et al., 2008). There has also been substantive movement toward developing exacting quality control standards for organic or pollution-free certification for aquaculture products and other foods (Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine, 2007; Song et al., 2007; He, 2003). As disposable incomes increase and wealthier consumers become
more discerning in their purchasing habits, there will be an incentive for domestic food producers to follow the HACCP system or apply for organic/pollution-free certification to attract this lucrative segment of the market. While these signs are encouraging, there is still a large proportion of the population with relatively low incomes, especially those in rural areas, who could not pay a premiumfor safer foods. This may lead a continuation of the dual system withfood destined for export and the wealthy urban market being treateddifferently to food for the rural and low income markets.