(Yicai) Jan. 24 -- China plans to issue nationwide standards to bolster supervision of the fast-growing market for prepared meals.

A draft of the rules has been completed and submitted to regulators, a source from the China Cuisine Association, which took part in preparing them, told Yicai yesterday. It is not known when the document will be published, the person added.

The draft standards ban the adding of preservatives to ready meals and mandate cold-chain transport, China Newsweek reported on Jan. 22, adding that they will be finalized within six months at the earliest.

This shows that the industry attaches great importance to food safety, said Yuan Shuai, executive vice president of the Institute of Agricultural, Cultural and Tourism Industry Revitalization. Banning preservatives can make prepared meals more natural and healthy, but it also poses challenges for production and transport, requiring more research and development into updgrading production technology and packaging, Yuan added.

National standards will help to promote the serving of convenience food on campuses and in the broader market, according to industry insiders.

They will help to dispel consumer concerns by giving people a better understanding, Chen Qi, head of the ready meals business of a large group-meals company, said to Yicai. The standards are achievable and not too harsh, Chen added, noting that their implementation and enforcement are more important.

The prepared food market has developed fast in China in recent years, but it has inconsistent quality, according to Wen Zhihong, a catering chain expert and general manager of Hehong Consulting. National standards will force some companies out of the business in the short term, Wen pointed out.

Editor: Martin Kadiev