Govt requires cooking oil and food stock be ensured in major cities-英文阅读网

Chinanews, Beijing, Dec. 12 – Five governmental departments recently issued a notification asking local governments in 36 major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and in some sensitive areas to lay in stock a certain amount of cooking oil and food (including the stock of small packages of food and oil) so that these goods can meet market demand for at least ten days in emergency cases, according to information from the State Grain Administration.

Since 2007, domestic food market had remained basically stable. Recently, however, as affected by various factors, the prices of wheat, wheat flower and corn have witnessed a general rise. The sales prices of soybeans and cooking oil, in particular, have risen substantially. The situation has raised great concern among the general public, said a document jointly issued by the State Development and Reform Commission, State Grain Administration, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Communications.

The notification urges local governments to improve their food and oil emergency supply scheme and outline detailed plans on food and oil distribution for emergency cases. Local governments should designate certain granaries and food and oil processing companies so that under emergency cases, there will be sufficient supply of oil and food at these places. The food and oil storage (including their small packages) in 36 major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and in some sensitive areas should be sufficient enough to meet market demand for at least ten days. In order to ensure the production and supply of food and oil, local governments should do a good job in goods dispatch and ensure that there are some companies that can make small packages of food and oil.

The notification urges the sufficient supply of food and oil and proper monitor of food and oil market. It also calls for more cooperation between food and oil production and marketing sectors as well as a strengthening effort for market supervision.