Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07GUANGZHOU870, Amway or the Highway: QA in a Risky Business Environment

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07GUANGZHOU870.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07GUANGZHOU870 2007-08-01 07:45 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Guangzhou
VZCZCXRO7700
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHGZ #0870/01 2130745
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010745Z AUG 07
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6333
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 000870 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON EINV PGOV CH
SUBJECT: Amway or the Highway: QA in a Risky Business Environment 
 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT:  Amway is confident that its Quality 
Assurance (QA) program enhances the quality and safety of its 
products.  As in its dealings with Wal-mart, the Chinese government 
seeks Amway's advice on ways to elevate safety standards and educate 
Chinese companies.  Across-the-board, U.S. companies today are 
playing a major role in shaping the consumer product/QA environment 
domestically and globally for Chinese-made products.  This presents 
an opportunity for the USG to leverage Chinese policymakers' 
receptiveness to U.S. business advice and expertise.  This is 
another in our series of cables of interviews with U.S. and Chinese 
companies regarding consumer product safety and standards.  END 
COMMENT 
 
Amway Sources Locally and from its U.S. Operations 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2.  (SBU) Amway's Director of Technical Regulatory Services Hong Min 
Xu told us that the company generally relies on local Chinese 
suppliers to provide the raw materials, intermediate goods, and 
final goods for Amway's cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and household 
products.  For some products, however, Amway buys the raw materials 
but assembles the final product at one of its China-based production 
facilities.  In contrast, Xu explained, 99 percent of Amway's raw 
materials for its food products come from U.S. suppliers; that way, 
Amway can be assured that it is providing high quality goods. 
 
Good QA is Good Business 
------------------------ 
 
3.  (SBU) Amway's market strategy for China relies on a robust 
quality assurance system.  Eighty QA engineers audit suppliers' 
quality systems, product quality, and capacity at all levels of 
production, including raw materials, intermediate goods, final 
goods, and packaging.  Amway, which received ISO 9001 certification 
from United Laboratories (UL) and BSI, has in the past required its 
Chinese suppliers to have similar certification.  In recent years, 
Amway has raised its quality standards beyond ISO 9001 to guarantee 
the quality of products sold worldwide.  While Amway generally uses 
U.S. quality and safety standards for its worldwide operations, Xu 
said, meeting this standard is sometimes impossible from 
country-to-country.   However, Xu assured CongenOff, though without 
further clarification, this does not result in a lower level of 
safety or quality. 
 
4.  (SBU) Amway maintains a list of "qualified suppliers" for its 
cosmetics, detergents, and other household products. To become a 
"qualified supplier," a supplier goes through a 6-month to 3-year 
audit. Amway conducts regular inspections and audits of it 
"qualified suppliers."  If a supplier fails to meet standards 2-3 
times, Amway removes it from the firm's list of "qualified 
suppliers."  Amway also operates a Product Response System (PRS) 
used to elicit feedback from customers.  This enables Amway to 
investigate instances of product failure and design solutions to 
prevent future occurrences. 
 
Amway to go "Made in China" for retail worldwide 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5. (SBU) While Amway's China operations currently do not export 
products to the U.S., Xu volunteered that Amway would like to begin 
sending its products to the U.S. and other markets.  In fact, prior 
to the pet food scandal, Amway had plans to export it "softgel" food 
supplements; this has put this on hold for the time being.  Xu 
personally believes that Amway management now views one level of QA 
standards for all of its operations as a way to increase 
competitiveness and mitigate supply chain risk. 
 
Amway's QA investment has paid off 
---------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Xu was pleased that Amway had taken his advice and 
invested heavily in a quality control system, worldwide production 
facilities, and testing laboratories.  This investment has resulted 
in local and national recognition. Xu explained that the national 
government has recognized Amway's testing laboratory as a national 
laboratory and frequently asks Amway to conduct tests on its behalf. 
 
 
Advice on Standards Given to the Chinese Government 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
7.  (SBU) Xu noted that the Chinese government frequently seeks out 
Amway expertise on international standards and ways to revise 
Chinese standards.  He commended, with pride, that nearly fifty 
percent of his department's work consists of providing this expert 
advice.  His work brings him into contact with the Ministry of 
Health (MOH), the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection 
and Quarantine (AQSIQ), the State Administration of Industry and 
Commerce (SAIC), and the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). 
To date, Amway has assisted the Chinese government in shaping and 
 
GUANGZHOU 00000870  002 OF 002 
 
 
creating some 170 technical standards. 
 
8.  (SBU) Amway has also organized seminars on technical standards 
and safety regulations for these Ministries.  One recent seminar on 
international regulatory standards included European Commission 
officials, U.S. scientists, and other technical standard experts. 
Amway sometimes works with the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) and 
trade associations - the Council for Responsible Nutrition and 
International Alliance of Dietary Food Supplements Associations 
(IADSA)- to advise the Chinese government on the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission's list of standards.  Xu acknowledged that other foreign 
firms - Roche, Mead Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, Heinz, P&G, 
Avon, and Este Lauder - also advise on international standards. 
 
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth 
------------------------------ 
 
9.  (SBU) Xu pointed out that many - actually too many - Chinese 
government agencies are involved in creating and enforcing product 
and safety standards.  In Amway's case, nine agencies determine 
whether the company's products are acceptable.  He complained that 
these agencies or, in some instances, different divisions with these 
agencies, issue conflicting standards and interpretations.  He also 
believes that many Chinese agencies do not have the expertise to 
develop and enforce standards. 
 
10.  (SBU) Five years ago, Xu said, the Chinese government actively 
sought to create sound technical standards and regulations.  The 
government looked at different standards and regulations around the 
world as examples.  In the area of cosmetics, for example, China has 
adopted the essence of the Cosmetic Ingredients Review's (CIR) 
recommended standards, as well as those of the European Union's. 
For food, China has generally looked to the U.S. standards as a 
model.  Standards for other products have been an amalgam of 
internationally recognized and domestic standards. 
 
11.  (SBU) China has grown weary of what it believes to be 
increasingly complicated and trade distorting standards in the 
European Union and the United States, Xu said.  Additionally, 
Chinese companies, seeking a competitive advantage, have lobbied the 
Chinese government to adopt standards so limiting that only their 
company can benefit.  Xu observed that these two factors have led to 
a decline in Chinese standards and stalled reform. 
 
GOLDBERG