Upgraded platform to guarantee safe expo
Officers can use the platform to check for any irregularities.
People can follow market regulation updates regarding the CIIE on their phones via a WeChat program linked to the platform.
An upgraded supervision and management platform will help market regulators ensure food safety and monitor pricing and advertising during the upcoming 3rd China International Import Expo.
The platform established by the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation will also cover elevators, patrols and emergency guidance.
Using the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data, it has collected information on nearly 200 food companies related to the CIIE, 419 elevators inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center venue and more than 3,000 exhibitors.
It includes real-time video surveillance of kitchens and food processing areas of restaurants serving the CIIE, licensing information of food suppliers, mobile supervision and management information, food tracking information, and waste oil information.
"Via technologies such as artificial intelligence, the platform can spot irregularities such as strangers entering kitchens and sanitation problems at 73 catering businesses inside the CIIE venue and alert officials immediately," said Qiu Congqian, an official with the administration's food operation department.
"Recently, a mouse entered the kitchen of a restaurant at midnight, and the platform spotted it and alerted officials and its operator real time," said Qiu.
The platform covers items ranging from food safety to emergency guidance.
The platform shows real-time footage of a restaurant inside the CIIE venue.
The platform also features information on elevators and escalators covering breakdowns, repair and maintenance, and the results of previous checks.
Any problems on elevators and escalators inside the venue, breakdowns or behavior that could be hazardous, will send an alarm to officials and repair and maintenance personnel automatically.
For the first time, officials, enterprises and the public can follow market regulation updates regarding the CIIE on their phones via a WeChat program linked with the platform.
Inspectors can conduct supervision and management online, check real-time video footage of restaurants and elevators and deal with emergencies via the program, while food enterprises can register the health information of their staff and receive information about any irregularities.
The public can obtain information and inspection results by scanning a QR code at catering businesses inside the CIIE venue.
"They are also encouraged to make remarks and complaints on catering services and tip off food safety problems via the program," said Qiu.
Information on the CIIE venue and exhibitors is readily available on the platform.
An officer can carry out checks on the platform in real time..
The platform will also record details of whether any irregularities have been rectified after inspections and any problems with exhibitors’ prices or advertisements.
"It achieves real-time remote supervision and management, and direction of market regulation services, making it more intelligent and efficient," said Zhang Zhunmin, a counselor with the administration.
"For the first time, it includes cold-storage food management, special equipment and drugs and also involves prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Zhang.
"It enables the public to be informed of supervision and management results and provides a reference to the guarantee of future big events such as the 10th China Flower Expo in Shanghai next year.”
