Zhang Jianqiu (fifth from left), CEO of Yili Group poses for a photograph with other attendees at a forum on the standardization of consumer goods held in Beijing, Aug 13. [Photo provided to China Daily]

China's largest dairy producer Yili Group received approval to join the national pilot program for standardization with the aim of improving national standards in the consumer goods sector on Aug 13. 

Yili's inclusion in the program makes it the first and only dairy enterprise included in the national pilot program for standardization.

The announcement was made by the Standardization Administration of China at a forum on the standardization of consumer goods held in Beijing.

Zhang Jianqiu, CEO of Yili Group noted that standardization plays a key role in pushing forward the pace and quality of reform in China.

As a leading player in the dairy industry, Yili has striven to explore new measures and set an example to build systems to produce standardized consumer products, Zhang added.

For better quality and safety, the dairy firm has continued to upgrade its systems for quality supervision and management over the past several years.

Its quality systems now meet international standards including ISO9001, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), ISO14001 and OHSAS18001.

Yili's efforts at seeking product standardization received high recognition from officials and experts attending the forum.

“Yili's experience in establishing systems to produce quality dairy products will help shape the standards in the consumer goods industry across the country,” said Song Kungang, honorary president of China Dairy Industry Association, speaking at the forum.

Ma Chunliang, from the State Administration for Market Regulation revealed that the development of standardization is closely linked to the high-quality development of industries.

He added that the pilot program will encourage more enterprises to set industry standards, which will improve the quality of the nation's economic growth.

Gao Yanmin, director of the Department of Consumer Goods at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), expressed his hope that leading players in every industry across the nation could shoulder the responsibility to improve the quality of consumer products as well as bring China's standards up to international standards.