According to the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation, the State Administration for Market Regulation recently issued the "Regulations on the Supervision and Management of the Implementation of Food Safety Main Responsibility by Centralized Dining Units" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will come into effect on April 15, 2025. Food safety in centralized dining units such as schools, childcare institutions, elderly care institutions, hospitals, and government canteens is of paramount importance for food safety in catering services. In order to supervise centralized dining units, unit canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units to implement their main responsibilities for food safety, improve their food safety responsibility system, enhance their risk prevention and control capabilities, and maintain the safety of the public's diet, the State Administration for Market Regulation has separately legislated and formulated the "Regulations" for centralized dining units to implement their main responsibilities for food safety. The Regulation consists of 27 articles, which stipulate the allocation of responsibilities, risk prevention and control mechanisms, staffing and appointment requirements for food safety management personnel, and legal responsibilities for centralized dining units, unit canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units. The main content is as follows: Firstly, strengthen the food safety management responsibility of centralized dining units. It is stipulated that centralized dining units shall strengthen the management of their canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units in accordance with the law; When determining contracted enterprises and catering units, it is necessary to choose enterprises that have obtained food business licenses; Those who order food from the catering unit must inspect the ordered food according to the requirements. If a centralized dining unit fails to fulfill its food safety management responsibilities, it shall be punished in accordance with the law. The second is to clarify the main responsibility for food safety of unit canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units. It is stipulated that unit canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units shall establish and improve food safety management systems, implement food safety responsibility systems, and appoint food safety directors and food safety officers in accordance with the law; At the same time, considering the particularity of schools and kindergartens, if schools and kindergartens that meet certain conditions entrust contracted operations, they should also be equipped with a food safety director. The regulations stipulate that unit canteens, contracted operating enterprises, and catering units must strictly implement the work system of "daily control, weekly investigation, and monthly scheduling". Schools and kindergartens that violate the requirements of the regulations shall be given heavier punishment. The third is to improve the working mechanism for all relevant parties to collaborate in implementing food safety responsibilities. The regulations require centralized dining units to sign contracts with contracted operating enterprises and catering units in accordance with the law, clarify the obligations of both parties in terms of food safety, establish a food safety work consultation mechanism, regularly communicate and exchange ideas, jointly identify and eliminate safety hazards, and prevent and control food safety risks; If there is a potential risk of food safety accidents, all relevant parties shall immediately stop catering service activities and report according to regulations. (New Society)