Jinan sets 5 standards for catering industry

The Jinan municipal government held a news conference to announce and explain the drafting of five standards for the catering industry in Jinan on Aug 28.

The five standards include Green Catering Operation and Management Standard, General Standard for Jinan Renowned Dishes, General Standard for Jinan Renowned Snacks, General Standard for Jinan Renowned Restaurants, and General Standard for Renowned Chefs in Jinan.

The five standards will be critical to the formation of a standardized system for the entire industrial chain, said Zhao Zhiwen, director of the municipal bureau of commerce.

These five standards were created based on the results of multiple rounds of research on the catering industry and on feedback provided by industry experts like Chinese culinary masters and founders of renowned restaurants, Zhao added.

For example, the Green Catering Operation and Management Standard introduces a series of mandatory standards related to environmental protection, food saving, and civilized dining. It covers basic requirements, certification procedures, environmental standards, health requirements, and supervision and management that will support energy conservation, green development, and provide guarantees for food safety in Jinan.

The General Standard for Jinan Renowned Restaurants focuses on creating high-quality restaurants with the aim of highlighting Jinan's cultural heritage. It also aims to create a group of benchmark companies in the catering industry and lay a solid foundation for the healthy development of the industry in Jinan.