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The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) China Working Group recently held its Steering Committee meeting at the CGF Greater China Representative Office in Shanghai. Over 40 senior executives from retailers, manufacturers, and digital platform providers gathered to find new ways to work together on food safety.
Following a review of 2025 activities, the Committee set three priorities to meet local market needs:
- Accelerate the application of GFSI-recognised certification across the Chinese market.
- Launch a knowledge-sharing series on the use of AI in food safety practices.
- Strengthen stakeholder engagement and government-enterprise collaboration mechanisms.
The Committee also welcomed new Co-Vice Chairs from Starbucks China and Danone China, alongside new members from Walmart Sam’s Club and Tingyi (Master Kong) Holding Corp.
The meeting then shifted to tackling specific market blocks:
Strengthening certification integrity and value
Experts from Yum China and Taotian Group looked at how GFSI accreditation works on the ground in retail, catering, and e-commerce sectors. The group also identified pain points currently facing industry certification, including inconsistent auditor competence and integrity issues that undermine certificate validity. Discussions also highlighted a “compliance-only” culture where companies prioritise meeting customer requirements over genuine quality improvement, often leading to failed second-party audits, compounded by malfunctioning feedback loops between certification bodies and program owners. Addressing these gaps is essential for the quality promotion of GFSI accreditation in China.
Linking technology and talent development
Recognising the shift toward digital solutions, representatives from Ele.me (Taobao Flash Sale) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University explored the connection between technology-driven food safety and digital governance. The group proposed working with universities to build the next generation of talent.