Compiled from: China Market Regulation News
 
Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products Sold in Markets" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"), which will take effect on December 1, 2023.

[1] Image source from the internet; if infringement occurs, please delete!
 

Case review
The "Measures" address the issue of "fresh food lights" misleading consumers, as reported by the public, by adding requirements for the installation and use of lighting and other facilities in sales venues. It specifies that when selling fresh edible agricultural products, lighting and other facilities that significantly alter the true color and sensory characteristics of the products must not be used to mislead consumers' sensory perception of the goods.
 
Controversy over "fresh food lights" has existed for a long time. Last year, media reported that a consumer bought fresh pork that looked bright and glossy at a market, but found the color had changed and seemed less fresh upon returning home.
 
Many people are dissatisfied with merchants using "fresh food lights" to alter the appearance of food. They believe this practice is a form of deception that violates trust and integrity. The new regulations from the regulatory authorities explicitly prohibit this, aiming to protect consumer rights and food safety.
 
In summary, the regulatory authorities' ban on merchants using "fresh food lights" to mislead consumers is correct. This practice violates consumers' right to know and choose, and undermines fair competition in the market. Only in this way can the healthy development of the fresh food market be promoted and consumer protection strengthened.
 
 
《[1] The People's Republic of ChinaCivil Code
Article 7
Civil subjects engaged in civil activities shall adhere to the principle of good faith, act honestly, and honor their commitments.
 
 
Measures for the Supervision and Administration of the Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products Marketed
Article 7
Sellers of edible agricultural products (hereinafter referred to as sellers) shall maintain a clean sales environment, keep an appropriate distance from toxic, hazardous sites and other sources of pollution, and prevent cross-contamination.
When selling fresh edible agricultural products, sellers shall not use lighting or other facilities that significantly alter the true color or other sensory properties of the products, so as to mislead consumers' sensory perception of the goods.
The use of methods such as selling pre-cleaned or chilled edible agricultural products is encouraged.
 
 
[1] The author's perspective
We often say that laws and regulations should be closely related to people's livelihoods, and the "Measures" in this case are a good example. People who frequently buy groceries often encounter the problem of food not being fresh—why does it look bright and vibrant at the market but completely different when brought home? In fact, the issue of "fresh food lights" was raised long ago. Although this method does not change the nature of the food, it uses deceptive techniques to mislead consumers into making incorrect judgments about the freshness of the food. The introduction of these "Measures" also responds to the principle of good faith in the Civil Code.
 
However, it is worth noting that while the "Measures" fundamentally address the deceptive trick of "fresh food lights," will they give rise to other deceptive methods? For example, using red panels for meat and green panels for vegetables... This shows that there are still many issues when laws and regulations are implemented. Even with the introduction of these new rules, there may still be situations where policies are circumvented. Therefore, both legislative and enforcement processes must be adjusted based on actual circumstances to maximize the rule of law.