A Walmart store in Yichang, Hubei province, on June 6. LIU JUNFENG/FOR CHINA DAILY
Walmart China will significantly strengthen food safety and compliance controls, the retail giant said after China's top market regulator summoned its local membership retail arm Sam's Club China over repeated food safety violations.
The undertaking by Walmart China followed an official regulatory interview conducted by the State Administration for Market Regulation, which said it had uncovered food safety issues over an extended period across both Sam's Club physical stores and its e-commerce channels.
Regulators instructed Walmart China to strictly comply with China's food safety law as well as regulations governing chain retailers and online food sales operators, while strengthening supply chain oversight, risk control systems, and corporate accountability mechanisms to better safeguard consumer health.
In response, Walmart China said it "fully acknowledges, deeply reflects upon, and sincerely accepts" the regulator's instructions, adding that it has issued a formal apology to members for any inconvenience caused. The company said it has launched a senior management-led task force to conduct a full internal inspection and a rectification campaign spanning its operations.
