Qianjiang Evening News: Why is the use of prohibited drugs on fish, shrimp, and crabs still ongoing despite repeated bans?

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The women carrying shopping baskets can be considered experts in food safety; when going to the market, they follow a set of \"shopping principles\" that are widely known among housewives: which vegetables tend to have more pesticide residues, and that children should eat less chicken wing tips as they may contain hormone residues； Pork with too much lean meat may have been treated with lean meat enhancers… Relatively speaking, seafood such as fish, shrimp, and crabs seem to be relatively safe choices among meat-based foods. Recently, the **Food and Drug Administration’s report on food safety supervision and sampling tests in 2017 has once again caused concern among housewives. Among the substandard foods sampled by the General Administration in 2017, aquatic products turned out to be a \"critical area\" regarding food safety, with serious problems of drug abuse. In over 90% of the substandard aquatic products, chloramphenicol, malachite green, furacilin, or metabolites of furazolidone – substances for which the standards stipulate that they must not be used or detected – were found. 　　The melamine scandal in 2008 was a turning point for food safety issues in our country. Following strict regulatory actions taken thereafter, no melamine was detected in infant formula milk powder for 9 consecutive years by the relevant authorities ； \"Sudan Red\" was also not detected in egg products for 4 consecutive years. Following several major food safety incidents, food safety issues gradually became a matter of great importance that China made concerted efforts to address. Those notorious illegal additives basically disappeared, but problems related to food safety stemming from agricultural production methods, such as soil contamination in farming and the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the misuse of antibiotics, hormones, and veterinary drugs in animal husbandry, have come to light over time. 　　In fact, over the past two years, in various special inspections conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, prohibited veterinary drugs used in aquatic products sold in supermarkets have repeatedly been detected, and the misuse of veterinary drugs in substandard aquatic products is a significant issue. Due to their carcinogenic and teratogenic effects, these drugs were banned by the Ministry of Agriculture from being used in food-producing animals as early as 2002. It can be said that efforts to combat the use of prohibited veterinary drugs in animal-based foods have been ongoing in our country, but why does this problem persist despite such efforts? 　　China’s aquaculture production accounts for 74% of the world’s total, making it the largest in the world. However, given the high density of aquaculture and the large variety of species in our country, it is an undeniable fact that fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish are prone to getting sick. However, it is reported that a total of 144 types of aquatic product vaccines are used in aquatic products worldwide, while China has only 4 such vaccines. Lacking effective vaccines, in order to prevent fish, shrimp, and crabs from falling ill, it is necessary to increase the dosage of drugs. These drugs, which are inexpensive yet highly effective, are naturally favored by unscrupulous traders, and their use in breeding and transportation continues despite repeated bans. 　　In terms of the severity of penalties, the current regulations on veterinary drugs specify a fine range of between 30,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan for enterprises and individuals who sell animal products that are still under the medication period or withdrawal period, or animal products containing prohibited drugs or exceeding the allowed limits for veterinary drug residues. This is an exorbitant amount for small farmers, but it’s a drop in the bucket for large companies, and thus does not serve as a sufficient deterrent. 　　As the New Year approaches, the Chinese believe that food is the foundation of life, and eating is of utmost importance. Although our country has a large population, we are no longer in an era where the focus is merely on having enough to eat; rather, it’s about eating safely and nutritiously. There must be zero tolerance for issues related to food safety. To safeguard safety on our plates, good laws are necessary alongside effective governance; food regulation and enforcement must be strict to ensure that the deterrent power of the law is put into practice. At the same time, a sound quality and safety tracking system should be established, with unique “identity tags” assigned to aquatic products, so that the origin of each fish can be traced. In the event of any violations, those responsible must pay the corresponding price. Chen Jinhong, January 31, 2018, 07:56. Source: Qianjiang Evening News