Application Guidelines for the 2017 National Key Research and Development Program ''Research and Development of Key Technologies for Food Safety''

[Introduction] This consultation focuses on soliciting opinions and suggestions from all parties regarding the rationality, scientific validity, and advancement of the objectives, indicators, and related content proposed in the guidelines for each special project. The Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant departments, professional institutions, and experts, will carefully study the received opinions and suggestions and revise and improve the project application guidelines for the relevant key special projects. No further feedback or response will be provided for the opinions and suggestions collected.

In accordance with the requirements of the "Opinions of the State Council on Improving and Strengthening the Management of Central Government-Funded Scientific Research Projects and Funds" (Guofa [2014] No. 11), the "Notice of the State Council on the Reform Plan for Deepening the Management of Central Government-Funded Science and Technology Programs (Special Projects, Funds, etc.)" (Guofa [2016] No. 64), and the "Notice of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance on Relevant Matters Concerning the Organization and Management of the National Key R&D Program during the Transitional Period of Reform" (Guokefazi [2015] No. 423), the 2017 Project Application Guidelines for the Key Special Project on "Research and Development of Key Technologies for Food Safety" (draft for comments, see attachment) are now open for public comment. The consultation period is from May 4th to May 8th, 2017. Please send your comments to sfs_swyyc@most.cn before 24:00 on May 8th.

The formulation, layout, and task deployment of the relevant key special projects under the National Key R&D Program have been reviewed and evaluated by the Strategic Consulting and Comprehensive Review Special Committee, studied and deliberated by the Inter-Ministerial Liaison Meeting on National Science and Technology Program Management, and approved by the State Council for implementation. This consultation focuses on soliciting opinions and suggestions from all parties regarding the rationality, scientific validity, and advancement of the objectives, indicators, and related content proposed in the guidelines for each special project. The Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant departments, professional institutions, and experts, will carefully study the received opinions and suggestions and revise and improve the project application guidelines for the relevant key special projects. No further feedback or response will be provided for the collected opinions and suggestions.

The overall objective of this special project is to address the serious problems of food source pollution, weak process control capabilities, and insufficient regulatory support in my country. It focuses on key hazards that seriously endanger the health of the Chinese people, such as foodborne pathogenic microorganisms, chemical carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, antibiotics, and biotoxins. The project will conduct in-depth basic research on food safety hazard identification and toxicity mechanisms, migration and transformation patterns of hazardous substances in food raw materials, and safety control mechanisms, providing a crucial theoretical foundation for scientifically and effectively ensuring food safety. It will also effectively strengthen research on key common technologies in four areas: process control, inspection and testing, monitoring and evaluation, and regulatory emergency response. This includes accelerating the development of rapid detection and non-targeted screening technologies and products, significantly increasing the domestic production rate of rapid food safety testing reagents and equipment, constructing a food safety standard system aligned with international standards, a nationally unified traceability and early warning system, a full-chain process control system, and a national food safety big data cloud platform, and further improving the regulatory emergency response technology system. Furthermore, the project will actively translate research results into practical applications, conducting comprehensive regional and industrial chain demonstrations in key areas such as the quality and safety assurance of edible agricultural products, food safety emergency response, and social co-governance. This will provide technical support for shifting my country's food safety approach from "passive response" to "proactive assurance," ensuring the safety of the public's food, and promoting the healthy and rapid development of food-related industries.

This special project, adhering to the principles of full-chain deployment and integrated implementation, comprises three tasks: basic research on food safety assurance mechanisms, research and development of key common technologies and products for food safety, and transformation, integration, and comprehensive demonstration of key food safety technologies. In 2017, it is planned to deploy 18 research directions from these three tasks.