China can learn from the UK's experience in helping small and medium-sized businesses implement food safety standards, says Jenny Morris, principal policy officer of the London-based charity Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

"Larger businesses often have resources to follow regulations in a more scientific way, but smaller businesses require more support in understanding and implementing standards in a practical way," Morris says.

The UK itself took a rather long route to find the best way of supporting SMEs, she says. " We realized that it was not enough to support the SMEs with monitoring and inspection facilities. They also needed information on how to achieve the correct standards. This is something that we hope can be shared internationally."