Expect more food shipments from China to the United States to face examination and potentially detention as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration implements the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), according to Benjamin England, a 17-year FDA veteran and founder and CEO of FDAImports.com and ExportToUsa.com.cn.

On Wednesday, England listed the three major challenges facing Chinese food exporters ahead of the China Fisheries; Seafood Expo, which takes place in Qingdao, China, from 1 to 3 November.

One of the three major challenges is juggling speed and quality control. “One of the toughest parts about FDA compliance from a manufacturing standpoint is that there’s always a tension between speed and quality control,” said England.

To stay competitive, Chinese companies are producing more at a faster rate. “When you do that month after month there is a risk that quality control is diminished,” he said. “because the rules are getting more complicated and production outpaces your ability to stay on top of it.” [Read more…]