Comparative Study on Microbiological Limit Standards of Ready-to-eat Foods in China and South Asia

South Asia is an important part of China's "opening to the west" development strategy, and with the further deployment and implementation of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, the trade volume between South Asia and China has been increasing year by year. China's export to South Asia maintained growth in 2011-2020, among which the annual growth rate was 10% higher than that in three years and 5% higher than that in six years.Because countries have different standards for microbiological limits of ready-to-eat foods, technical barriers to trade have been strengthened, resulting in increased operating costs for enterprises.This paper compares China with major countries in South Asia: Microbial limit standards for ready-to-eat foods in Pakistan, Bhutan and India compare microbial sampling methods, index setting characteristics and limit requirements in dairy products, meat products, aquatic products, confectionery, pastry products, fruits and their products, etc., to provide a basis for China to develop a more scientific microbial limit standard for import and export food and fill the gap in China's limit standards.At the same time, it also plays a positive role in enhancing the competitiveness of our food in world trade, preventing foreign contaminated and pathogenic food from entering our country, and protecting our people's food safety and life and health.