The Congressional Research Service, a research arm of the USA Congress recently presented a report titled: “Health and Safety Concerns Over US Imports of Chinese Products: An Overview” publish January 2008 by Wayne Morrison

The report largely references news Stories from 2007, criticizing USA importants of Chiense products based on a number of safety concerns and lack of regulation. 

Some snatch shots of the stories:

• Xinhua News Agency reported that former director of State Food and Drug andministration had been sentenced to death for bribes, $850,000 USD for apporivng untested medicines, executed July 10, 2007.  (Though it a curious reference, a death sentence is definite post-regulation)
• June 27, 2007 China Daily News reports about nationwide use of dangerous raw materials used to produce candy, flour, pickles,

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2007 issued warnings and announced voluntary recalls on certain pet foods (and products used to manufacture pet food and animal feed) from China believed to have caused the sickness and deaths of numerous pets in the United States. In May 2007, the FDA issued warnings on certain toothpaste products (some of which were found to be counterfeit) found to originate in China that contained poisonous chemicals. In June 2007, the FDA announced import controls on all farm-raised catfish, bass, shrimp, dace (related to carp), and eel from China after antimicrobialagents, which are not approved in the United States for use in farm-raised aquatic animals, were found. Such shipments will be detained until they are proven to be free of contaminants. On January 25, 2008, the FDA posted on its website a notice by Baxter Healthcare Corporation that it had temporarily halted the manufacture of its multiple-dose vials of heparin (a blood thinner) for injection because of recent reports of serious adverse events (including an estimated 81 deaths and hundreds of complications) associated with the use of this drug.

Congressional Research Service, www.crs.gov