"Conditionally liberalizing the production and operation of cultured puffer fish" held a hearing in Beijing, focusing on soliciting opinions from all sectors of society on the Notice on Conditionally liberalizing the production and operation of cultured puffer fish jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the State Food and Drug Administration. The reporter learned that this time, the market of ********** was not open, but the varieties were strictly restricted, mainly two varieties that had been fully mature and accumulated through more than 20 years of experience, namely, the red finned oriental dolphin and the dark finned oriental dolphin.

Limited lifting of ban, only 2 varieties open

There are more than 40 kinds of puffer dolphins commonly seen in China's coastal areas. This time, there are only two species to be released from production and management: red finned oriental dolphin and dark striped oriental dolphin, which must be farmed. Yu Xuerong, secretary-general of Jiangsu Food and Beverage Industry Association, said that the reason why only these two varieties are allowed to be released is that with the increasingly sophisticated drug control technology in recent years, the toxins contained in cultured fugu are far below the risk value. "Dalian Tianzheng Group is the main aquaculture enterprise of the red finned oriental dolphin, and Jiangsu Zhongyang Group is the main aquaculture enterprise of the dark finned oriental dolphin. At present, the common chrysanthemum yellow dolphin in the market mainly comes from Fujian, and the ban has not been lifted."

The data show that most of the fugu are highly toxic, especially those living in the wild. After more than 20 years of exploration and research, the toxicity of cultured puffer fish has been significantly reduced to ********* level. After processing, it can be safely eaten. The two species of Oriental Porpoise, the red finned Oriental Porpoise and the dark finned Oriental Porpoise, have been artificially bred for * * * a long time. The poison control breeding technology and the export domestic market * * * are mature, and the product quality and safety are guaranteed. The product covers * * * a wide range of products, and the output is * * * large.

Breeding and processing enterprises must be put on record with the government

It is reported that not any enterprise can breed and process puffer fish. The puffer fish breeding and processing enterprises must pass the expert assessment organized by the China Fishery Association and the China Aquatic Circulation and Processing Association, and be put on record and publicized in the Ministry of Agriculture before obtaining the production and operation license.

The conditions for examination and filing of puffer fish processing enterprises are very strict. First of all, there must be a breeding puffer fish source base registered by the Ministry of Agriculture; Secondly, they must have puffer fish processing and production equipment and technical personnel, have the ability to identify puffer fish varieties professionally, and master the safe processing technology of puffer fish; Thirdly, it is necessary to establish a complete product quality and safety traceability system and health management system.

Why must processing enterprises have a documented breeding base for puffer fish? It is difficult to identify the variety of puffer fish. The cultured puffer fish in different regions are different. It is also difficult to distinguish between wild puffer fish and cultured puffer fish. The puffer fish processing enterprises must have certain professional sorting capabilities. Therefore, after careful study and discussion, the three ministries and commissions decided that puffer fish processing enterprises must have documented puffer fish source bases.

It is prohibited to sell wild puffer fish and live cultured puffer fish

If conditions permit, the production and operation of cultured puffer fish is still in the trial stage. In order to ensure food safety, the notice stipulates that wild puffer fish, live farmed puffer fish and unprocessed whole farmed puffer fish are not allowed to be sold on the market. This is also an important limitation of "conditionally liberalizing the production and operation of cultured puffer fish". The puffer fish products circulating in the market must be processed products.

The cultured puffer fish must be processed by the processing enterprise according to certain standards and steps. After packaging, the puffer fish can enter the domestic market with clear identification and traceability. If the processing enterprise wants to further process the red finned oriental porpoise and the dark finned oriental porpoise, it must have a food production license, formulate the corresponding food safety enterprise standards, and be approved and filed by the local health food standardization department.

-Hot issues

How to ensure that wild fugu is not served?

The reporter searched the news of 2015, and there were 7 confirmed puffer fish poisoning incidents reported in the news. The reporter noticed that in these poisoning incidents, some puffers were "caught in the river", some were "bought from vendors on the roadside", and two were "picked up in the vegetable market". All poisoning cases are self cooked puffer fish, and most of these ingredients are wild.

How to ensure that the food purchased by hotels and supermarkets must be artificially farmed puffer fish and not mixed with wild puffer fish? The Notice on Conditionally Releasing the Production and Operation of Cultured Fugu expressly prohibits the production and operation of wild fugu, and prohibits unqualified units and individuals from engaging in production, operation and cultivation of fugu. Those who violate the regulations will be punished and held accountable. "The documents are clear, and a whole process traceability system will be established for the products, which will be tracked and managed through two-dimensional code and other product packaging."

In addition, regulatory authorities across the country will also increase market supervision. Those who sell wild fugu shall be punished in strict accordance with the provisions of Article 124 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China.

When will it be served to the people's table?

Many people are concerned about when they can eat safe and delicious puffer fish? Meng Xuesong, executive vice president of Fugu Fish Branch of China Fishery Association and chairman of Dalian Tianzheng Industry Co., Ltd., introduced that the enterprise is currently doing a good job in filing, management, breeding, processing, sales and other work to prepare for the lifting of the ban. "On the one hand, we are waiting for the three ministries to jointly issue the 'lifting order' to clearly define the wild and artificial breeding of puffer fish, and make clear restrictions on production, processing and circulation, so that puffer fish can really 'swim' to Chinese people's table in the near future. On the other hand, we are also strengthening industry self-discipline, under the guidance of various government departments, regulating market behavior, and serving more consumers."