China urges Brazil to ensure meat safety

BEIJING - China on Thursday urged Brazil to take measures to ensure the quality of its meat products following a tainted meat scandal there.

As the largest importer of Brazilian meat, China is highly concerned with the quality issue, Ministry of Commerce Spokesman Sun Jiwen told a press conference, saying that Chinese authorities have taken "temporary measures" in response to the matter.

Brazilian police uncovered widespread meat adulteration last week, involving some of the country's premier meat producers, who bribed health inspectors to allow sales of tainted meat.

China expects the Brazilian government to conduct a thorough investigation and take measures to ensure the quality of its meat exports to China, said Sun.

"China hopes the rule-breakers will be severely punished, and would like to be kept updated on the progress of the issue," he said.