Chinese Crackdown on Meat Crimes: Rinse, Repeat

China launched a crackdown on illegal practices in livestock production last week. The 8-month campaign will address problems that have persisted for decades: 

• Illegal use of muscle-promoting chemicals like clenbuterol
• Trading in meat from animals that died of disease
• Operation of illegal slaughter facilities 
• Injection of water, medications or other substances into animals before slaughter
• Production and sale of counterfeit beef, mutton, and donkey meat products
• Use or sale of livestock and poultry products of unknown origin lacking inspection certificates

According to the April 4, 2024 announcement on China Central TV (CCTV), the State Council's Food Safety Office, the Public Security Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and State Administration of Market Supervision issued a circular ordering local officials to carry out an 8-month "special rectification" targeting illegal behavior in meat production. 

Comments posted on "The Paper's" announcement of the crackdown observed that:

• "We hear this all the time, repeated bans, endless!"
• "Bans are not enough; punishment is not enough; publicity is not enough; problems must be traced to the roots"
• "Violations will continue as long as rewards are too big and punishments too light"
• "Why not check the factories producing the [banned chemicals]?"
• "You should check the school cafeterias"

Three years ago, a March 15, 2021 CCTV exposed widespread use of clenbuterol and other substances in sheep farming. CCTV asked ""Why is it repeatedly banned?" noting China's agriculture ministry had launched a major crackdown a year earlier. CCTV revealed that farmers received warnings from village officials of impending inspections. More crackdowns were announced by provincial authorities in Hebei, Henan, Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai the day after the 2021 CCTV expose was aired.

In 2011 CCTV exposed collusion between farmers, slaughterhouse officials and pig traders to hide use of clenbuterol in muscular "body builder pigs" supplied to prominent meat company Shuanghui. The CEO of Shuanghui issued public apologies and promised to transition from being a "killer of pigs" to a "raiser of pigs." In 2013 Shuanghui's CEO got the green light to buy U.S. company Smithfield Foods. 

Crackdowns on illegal slaughter facilities and sale of meat from diseased animals date back at least to the 1990s.