Canned food is a major export commodity in China. Taking Shandong Port as an example, in 2013, a total of 12 307 batches of canned food were exported, with a value of $450 million. The export volume of canned food accounted for more than 10% of the total food export volume of Shandong Province in 2013.

 

Commercial sterility is an important basis for canned food to maintain a longer shelf life, and also an important feature of canned products. The commercial sterility test of GB/T4789.26-2013 "Food Microbiology Inspection" in China is mainly judged by heat preservation test and microbial culture test. The products with negative heat preservation test and negative microscopic inoculation test can be judged as commercial sterility. The microbial testing requirements for canned products in Korea and Japan also include heat preservation test and bacterial test, but the products with negative heat preservation test are still inoculated and cultured. If the culture medium is turbid, the products are judged to be positive for bacterial growth and unqualified products.

 

The determination method is different from the national standard as follows: first, the insulation test temperature, the South Korean Food and Drug Safety Department (MFDS) insulation test is 35/37 for 10 days, then placed at room temperature for one day to inoculate the test, Japan for 35 1 for 14 days after insulation; second, the South Korea and Japan for insulation test did not occur obesity or obesity. The leaked products were all cultured on thioglycolate liquid medium (suitable for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria growth), and cultured at 35/37 C for 2 days. The results were positive when the medium was cloudy. In this method, once the product is not completely killed microorganisms or spores, it is very likely to appear positive results and be judged unqualified.

 

The difference between Japanese and Korean commercial aseptic testing methods and national standards has brought tremendous pressure on China's canned exports to Japan and Korea: First, the cost increases. The insulation time of Japan and South Korea is much longer than the national standard. The different insulation temperature causes the product sales cycle to be longer, the inventory pressure to be increased, and the testing cost to be increased. It is estimated that the cost of each export batch of canned exports to Shandong and Korea will increase by nearly US $500. The two is the increase of export risk. As the only basis for putting into the market, the results of the heat preservation test of the canned goods after arrival are insufficient in primitiveness and testability. In addition, the prolongation of holding time and the difference of holding temperature will lead to the result of insulation can not reflect the conventional control of canned sterilization process; third, the number of notifications increased. Many exporters do not understand the microbial requirements and testing methods of canned food in Japan and South Korea. Before exporting, they did not carry out commercial aseptic tests on canned food in accordance with the requirements of importing countries. As a result, canned food exported to Japan and South Korea was notified because of positive microbial propagation or exceeding the standard.

 

In view of the above problems, the inspection and quarantine departments suggest that: first, the relevant export enterprises should conduct commercial aseptic testing and establish relevant records for the export products according to the inspection methods of Japan and South Korea, and report the products to the inspection outlets on the premise of ensuring that the products meet the requirements of the importing countries; second, the relevant departments should pay attention to doing a good job of guiding and strengthening the communication between industries. Third, it is suggested that the trade authorities should take the lead in setting up the national anti-dumping advisory and response service agencies, strengthen the communication between governments, issue early warning in time, and do a good job in advance.