China is not the only country with product safety problems, but its growing importance as a global exporter has put the issue under intense scrutiny, especially after a series of recent scares over tainted goods, European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said.

"Some Chinese officials pointed out that less than 1 percent of China's exports to Europe had alleged health risks. But Europe imports half a billion euros (dollars) worth of goods from China every day so even 1 percent is not acceptable," he said in unusually strong remarks at the opening of an international food safety forum in Beijing.

"Consumer safety is a zero compromise issue," he added.

In recent months, China has been battling to improve its image as a safe manufacturer and exporter amid discoveries around the world of high levels of chemicals and toxins in its products, from toothpaste to fish.

"Consumers and businesses inevitably need to be reassured that China cannot just produce, but that it produces safely at every stage," Mandelson said. "This is crucial not just for our sake as consumers but for China's long-term success."

Mandelson said about half of the 1,000 safety violations registered last year by the EU's monitoring system were for nonfood products made in China. "In 2007, those numbers look set to rise by 50 percent," he said.

For food products, Chinese exports made up 9 percent of goods that were flagged, including honey, peanuts and genetically modified rice, he said. The numbers were also expected to rise this year, he said.

"After the events of this year, restoring and then maintaining consumer trust and confidence in Chinese products must be China's priority if it wants to maintain the export growth rates of recent years," Mandelson said.

"A reputation can only be built up steadily, step-by-step, but it can be destroyed in a moment. This is what is at stake for China," he said.

Mandelson said the issue of counterfeit goods is key in fixing the problem of product safety.

Eight out of 10 fake products — including medicines — seized at Europe's borders last year were made in China, he said.

"China will never properly tackle the issue of product safety without addressing the tidal wave of counterfeit goods. This is a war that China must win," Mandelson said.