Analysis of the Status Quo of the Sericultural Standard System in China and Its Future

Ping WU，Tao CHENG ，Long LI*，Xingjia SHEN

1.Sericultural Research Institute，Jiangsu University of Science and Technology，Zhenjiang212018，China；2.Quality Inspection Center for Sericultural Products，Ministry of Agriculture P.R.China，Zhenjiang 212018，China

With a history ofmore than 5000 years，silkworm has made significant contributions to human being's material and spiritual civilization［1－2］.The standards of sericulture are not only a significant symbol of modern silkworm，but also a definite requirement for the agriculture advancement［3－4］.Along with the progress of trade liberalization and economic globalization，standardization has become the principle form of new trade protectionism in developed countries［5］.Through decades of development，the sericultural standard system has covered every aspects of sericultural industry，from mulberry seedling plantation to cocoon selection，from products quality to the methods standards，forming the sericultural industry standard system framework，which enhances the quality of silkworm，promotes the adjustment of industrial structure and increases farmers' income［6］.However，compared with other industries，silkworm and mulberry standardization is relatively stagnant，and the existed standard structure lags behind the demand of sericultural industry.

1 Status quo for standards of sericulture system in China

1.1 Outline of the existed sericultural standards in China

The first standard related to silkworm and mulberry was promulgated until1997（NY326－1997 The F1 hybrid eggs of silkworm and NY／T 327－1997 The testing rules for F1 hybrid eggs of silkworm），nearly 20 years later than raw silk standards.In the last few years，China has invested so much on standardization that the formulation of standards of sericulture in China achieved fast developments.Until now，there are25 national and industrial standards regarding sericulture，and five more national standards and two more industrial standards are being developed.Among those standards，products standards and procedure standards accounted for 38.46%，method standards for 17.95%and inputs standards for 5.13%.（Table 1）.

1.2 Statusquo of local standardsInfluenced by different climate and regional environment，each province is actively formulating and promoting local standards，which provide effective insurance for the development of sericulatural industry.Until November 2011，there were 206 local standards promulgated in fourteen provinces such as Guangdong，Guangxi，Anhui，Jiangsu，Henan，Zhejiang，Chongqing，Sichuan，Shandong，Xinjiang，Shaanxi，Guizhou，Yunnan and Shanxi，among which 34 standards are about the quality production of sericulture，48 standards about mulberry production，76 standards about silkworm breeding，23 standards about cocoon production，27 standards about comprehensive utilization of silkworm and mulberry.Besides，there are 34 local standards being made now.

Based on the ecological characteristics in various places，and according to the requirements of convenience，good quality，high－efficiency and ecology，five places have been regionalized for planting mulberry and breeding silkworm，South China subtropical silkworm region，Eastern China silkworm region，southwest hilly silkworm region，Northern China and Northern ecological silkworm region in order to increase farmers' income and stabilize silkworm production（Fig.1）.As shown in Fig.1，there are many relevant standards regarding silkworm technology，but little information about silkworm cocoon and comprehensive utilization.

2 Characteristics and problems in standard sericulture in China

2.1 Basic formation of sericultural standard systemThe existed system covers products，methods，procedures and inputs，involving many production links such as mulberry growing，silkworm breeding，and comprehensive utilization.The standard systems focus on silkworm breeding technology，silkworm quality and mulberry trees.Taking silkworm－breeding technology as an example，there are82 related standards around China，covering cold storage，soaking，breeding，and diseases inspection and prevention.

Table 1 National standards of sericulatural industry and status quo of industrial standards

Fig.1 Distribution of local standards in different places

2.2 Few national and industrial standards，imperfect structureSericultural industry is an industry that combines plantation and breeding industry，with long production period and wide coverage as well as high requirement of production technology.Although there are only27 national and industrial standards now，the sericultural industry is becoming diverse，and the comprehensive utilization of byproducts of silkworm and mulberry is developing rapidly as there are products such as mulberry tea，mulberry juice，and cocoon powder in the market.However，the current standard system cannot meet the demands of industrial development.

2.3 A great number of local standards and repetitive structureIn recent years，local governments in China pay increasing attention to standards.There have been 206 local norms.There are more than 60 local standards in East China，a major silkworm production region.There have been over 50 regional norms in South China.The publication of local standard protects the healthy and stable development of sericultural industry in each province.However，some provinces copy each other's standards，and some relevant governments lack supervision.

3 Suggestions on the development of sericultural standard systems in China

3.1 Perfecting standard system and improving standard qualityAlthough the framework of sericultural standards system has been formed，the existed standard is underdeveloped，and there are few standards related directly to market circulation，which slow down the promotion of standardization.It is imperative to formulate general planning，focus on key point and insist on market priority principle based on overall investigation.It must to enhance the application of international standard rate，to raise sericultural industry standization level，to participate the making of international standards and to facilitate Chinese silk products more competitive.

3.2 Strengthen the construction of mulberry and silkworm quality standardizationPeople who revise and approve the standards not only should be professional，but also be knowledgable about standardization theories and policy levels.The existed silkworm standardization personnel are people who major in silkworm management or silkworm research，and most candidates are part－time.In the long run，agricultural universities or colleges will be the main channels to cultivate professionals for agricultural development.

3.3 Avoiding repetition in standardsThere is always repetition in the existed national standards，industrial standards，local standards and company standards.Therefore，each department needs to revise policies and regulations，strengthen cooperation in formulating policies，and avoid contradiction and repetition among local standards，national standards as well as industrial standards so as to establish efficient sericultural product systems.

3.4 Strengthening studies on inspection technology and improving inspection skillsThe current testing technology for mulberry and silkworm is relatively outdated because it basically depends on traditional manual testing，therefore the scientificity and accuracy of the inspection results should be increased.Convenient and fast testing methods and equipment should be studied，and technologies to enhance equipment to detect toxic materials should be developed.

3.5 Increasing scientific research investments and improving standard scientific research levelThe major reason for the underdeveloped standardization of mulberry and silkworm in China is insufficient fund.Administrative departments should consider increasing investment and cultivating high－educated technicians.

3.6 Strengthening standards training and publicizingThe standardization of silkworm and mulberry relies upon the joint participation of entire producers，managers，consumers and administrators.Hence，it is essential to strengthen training programs，to combine practical technological training with agricultural standardization training，to inform them the latest knowledge regarding silkworm and mulberry standards.Moreover，it is necessary to raise people's awareness of scientific production by hosting training classes and establishing demonstration places，etc.

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