Strengthening environmental governance in the food sector: learning from China’s progress in dairy safety

This chapter offers a comprehensive analysis of the reforms in China’s governance in the food sector, with a particular focus on food and dairy safety control since the watershed year of 2008—marked by the terrible Sanlu melamine milk scandal. It presents a panoramic view of China’s remarkable journey in overhauling its food and dairy safety governance, spanning the creation of pivotal legislation, profound institutional shifts, enhanced capacity building, and the embrace of a multi-stakeholder approach that enlists local governments and the private sector. This study contributes to a better understanding of the driving forces behind far-reaching reforms and the impacts crises can have on environmental governance in the food sector. It posits that crises, exemplified by the Sanlu incident, wield the potential to act as windows of opportunities for “turning points” within the realm of China’s regulatory governance. Remarkably, the scope of reform endures beyond traditional crisis responses, propelled by a complex interplay of both domestic and international factors. As such, this chapter underlines the influential role of public sentiment and media in shaping the government’s agenda-setting process, effectively extending the period of intensive reform. Finally, transcending national boundaries, this investigation demonstrates how the Sanlu crisis has expedited China’s global engagement in the realm of food and dairy safety. This heightened international involvement not only contributes to the refinement of China’s policy outcomes but also serves as a catalyst for the deepening of its ambitious reform agenda.