On Mar. 1st, 2008, Mrs. Zhao Yali, Secretary-General of CBIA, visited Guangdong Institute of Microbiology and had a talk with Mr. Wu Qingping, Chief of the Institute, Mr. Luo Tan, Chief of Guangdong Bottled Drinking Water Association, and other persons concerned. Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, the former Central-South Fungi Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a research institution directly under Guangzhou Bureau of Science & Technology majoring in technological research and product development in the fields including microorganism fermentation, biomedicine, food additive, anti-mildew and insect resistance, and edible fungi. It has been certified and approved as the High-Tech Enterprise of Guangzhou City.

According to Mr. Wu’s introduction, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology focuses on the field of microorganism fermentation through product development and technical service. Led by Mr. Wu, all the research specialist staff have been working hard to industrialize their research results. They have founded several companies including Huankai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and succeeded in the realization of funding scientific research with industry and supporting industry with scientific research. They have paid attention to the studies on the hygiene and quality control of mineral water and the issue of bromate for several years.

Mrs. Zhao highly appreciated Guangdong Institute of Microbiology’s tracking studies on the microbiological control of mineral water as well as the control of bromate, which will be of important significance to the enhancement of China’s mineral water safety level. She also expressed great appreciation to the Institute’s practice of funding scientific research with industry and supporting industry with scientific research, and using technical service as the link. She said that CBIA’s current and future development also depends upon the improvement of its own prosperity with good services. Finally, Mrs. Zhao visited the Institute’s laboratories equipped with advanced instruments and devices including ultra-low-temperature refrigerator, freeze drier, refrigerated centrifuge and 50~5000L fermentors. With these laboratories, the Institute has carried out over 120 scientific research projects in more than 30 years, among which over 30 projects have been awarded prizes of municipality, province and ministry levels.

During the visit, Mrs. Zhao and Mr. Luo Tan, Chief of Guangdong Bottled Drinking Water Association, exchanged their ideas on the future development of mineral water in China.