BEIJING -- China on Monday launched a registration system to record imported food in both varieties and places of origin, in a bid to establish a tracking system for food imports and guarantee safety.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine required in a statement that starting October 1, food exporters or agents overseas, together with consignees in China, should make registration of imported food on the filing management system on the website http://ire.eciq.cn.

AQSIQ demanded importers or agents should provide the name of food exporter and importer as well as registration serial number on the management system when they apply for quality inspection and quarantine at customhouses across China.

The consignees of imported food are asked to record the information concerning import and sale on the management system, the statement said.